LONDON — We will probably never know why Sunderland did not consider Sam Allardyce to be the right man to succeed Roy Keane, who resigned (by mobile phone text to chairman Niall Quinn) earlier this month.
By virtue of the fact Allardyce was not offered the job at the Stadium of Light — he was the favorite with the bookmakers — presumably Sunderland did not think he was suitable, for whatever reasons.
Allardyce, sacked by Newcastle last season, did not have to wait much longer for employment. On Wednesday, Blackburn Rovers announced he was Paul Ince's successor, 24 hours after the former England international had been dismissed.