Sam Allardyce the only interest he has had in his 10 months out of the game was an approach from the Republic of Ireland shortly after leaving St James' Park.

The former Toon boss says "I don't have to prove myself"... when obviously he does!

He arrived at SJP with a higher opinion of himself than the Toon Army had of him - saying "I will make Newcastle as successful as Bolton".

And ... errrrr ... what success was that?

Sam Allardyce: "The Republic of Ireland offer came immediately after I left Newcastle and I just wasn't in the right frame of mind.