Sam Allardyce severs ties with gambling firm

Sam Allardyce is distancing himself from By Club Betting, a gambling firm that promises rewards for grassroots football.

After an investigation by The Sun revealed that My Club Betting's managing director took a similar company into liquidation four years ago, Allardyce, who was hired as a brand ambassador for the firm, revealed he is quitting the job.

As Dominic Fifield of the Guardian details, The Sun's investigation showed that Neil Riches, the gambling firm's director, paid himself a bonus of £1,076,485 in addition to his salary of £223,500 when Worldlink Group PLC's creditors owed £4.3 million.

"The reason I joined My Club Betting was because I am so passionate about grassroots sport," Allardyce told The Sun. "We want to give our youngsters the best chance to do well in whatever sport they choose and the idea of this company is that 20 percent of the profits go towards that cause which is very close to my heart.

"But I had no idea about the background to the company which has been revealed by this investigation. In view of the revelations about Worldlink I cannot continue to promote the My Club Betting site and I will be giving up my shares."

Allardyce was confirmed as England's manager in July, signing a two-year contract with the Football Assocation that saw him abandon Sunderland and become Roy Hodgson's successor.