Gary Neville slams shamed Sam Allardyce’s £1m compensation from FA after he was ousted as the England manager for ‘inappropriate behaviour’
Ex-Three Lions' No2 says he's baffled why manager's exit was 'mutual' - and not a sacking - when moral standards are high
GARY NEVILLE feels shamed boss Sam Allardyce did not deserve a £1million pay-off from England.
Big Sam lost his dream job as Three Lions coach after being caught out in an undercover sting.
And Neville, who was axed as England No 2 after the Euro 2016 shambles, : “I don’t understand the ‘mutual’ aspect of Sam’s departure.
“He was sacked in my mind as there was no way Sam would have resigned.
“The FA cited ‘inappropriate behaviour’ yet reports suggest there was a £1m pay-off.
"You have to ask why, if it was inappropriate behaviour.
“When you’re setting the bar of moral standards, which is what the new FA regime are doing, that is fine — nobody can disagree with it.
“But moving that forward is going to be interesting.
“When players are caught taking laughing gas, or drink-driving, is that inappropriate?
“Should they be eligible for England when those things happen?
“It will be interesting in the future when there are incidents like player or staff misdemeanours, whether they then follow through with the same actions.
“That is sometimes difficult to do. If inappropriate behaviour means you’re going to lose your job, then why was there such a pay-off?”
RELATED STORIES
Manchester United legend Neville, 41, was criticised by Allardyce for his role as Roy Hodgson’s assistant at the Euros.
Neville added: “Sam has been clumsy and he’s admitted that he’s been caught up in pub chat.
“In terms of Sam’s chat, he didn’t say, ‘This is how you get around the rules and regulations’.
“He didn’t come up with the topic. There wasn’t a golden bullet you could say was wrong.
“It was wrong but not in the sense that there was improper or criminal activity. It was more a moral issue.
“This is a moral sacking by the FA. But when you take the moral exit route, particularly when you’re talking about the national game, you then have to see it through.”
