Ex-Crystal Palace star reveals Sam Allardyce’s brutal X-rated rant at squad in first meeting to ‘assert his dominance’
FORMER Crystal Palace star Damien Delaney has revealed Sam Allardyce’s opening words to the squad when he took charge – and they were brutally X-rated.
Big Sam is back in the Premier League with Leeds United after the strugglers turned to him to save them from the drop last week.
Relegation specialist Allardyce, 68, has been out of management for two years after last working at West Brom.
The former England boss has worked for several Premier League clubs over an illustrious career, including Bolton and West Ham, and has a reputation for swooping in to save clubs from the drop.
Although the last rescue attempt, when he arrived at West Brom midway through the 2020-21 season saw the club relegated to the Championship.
But he is remembered fondly by supporters of both Sunderland and Palace after previously rescuing them.
Now Delaney, who was part of the Eagles side under Allardyce in 2016, has revealed what it was like meeting Big Sam for the very first time.
Speaking on House of Football, Delaney said: “The first time we ever met him, I swear to God, this is a true story. We were all sitting in the meeting room waiting for him.
“He was about a minute late, he was obviously creating that (dominance)… like, you know, none of us had ever met him before.
“He just walks in, and he walks over the flip chart, flips it and says, that’s the team for tomorrow if you’re in it, well done.
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“If you’re not, don’t f***ing bother coming to see me. I don’t think you’re good enough. If you do want to come and see me, there will be one f***ing winner. Now f*** off out and train. And he just walked out. We all just went, ‘F***ing hell!’.”
Delaney added: “Everyone just went, oh this fella means business. That was it, that was the moment he established dominance. I’m the man!
“He gets his staff, he has a huge staff, and they obviously know what he wants, and it’s their job to deliver it.
“He sits on high, looking down on everything. Now, if there’s a disciplinary issue or there’s a media issue or something, he steps in.
“But when you see Sam Allardyce stepping in, step back because he’s coming hard, you know.”