The after-dinner drinks and conversation were in full flow. Sam Allardyce, then manager of Sunderland, was holding court and half a dozen football correspondents hung on his every word.
Whatever your perception is of him as manager, Allardyce is great company, especially after-dinner company. A man's man. Someone with a treasure chest of stories and anecdotes about his career. His humor is infectious.
The chat drifted to Malky Mackay who had lost his job as Cardiff manager after inappropriate texts between himself and Iain Moody, head of recruitment, were found on his company phone. A rookie error. Mackay had left himself open to investigation by having a phone supplied by his club, which had every right to examine its contents. Mackay was fired.