“Once you get here, feel the good cheer
Like they always say in the poem
Fat Sam's ain't humble
But it's your home sweet home”

Whenever somebody mentions Sam Allardyce, I always think of ‘Fat Sam’ in the gangster movie Bugsy Malone. Both share the same physique, have plenty to say for themselves and are generally regarded as rude and ebullient. But while the fictional character survives being splurged by custard at the end of the movie (as does everyone), there was no such happy ending for the 53-year-old who saw his reign as Newcastle manager come to an end early in the new year after only 24 matches.

Where now for the former Blackpool, Notts County and Bolton manager? After having his fingers burnt at St James’ Park, will Allardyce return to more modest surroundings? He’ll be fully aware of the need to start rebuilding a reputation that couldn’t have been stronger after the Magpies' opening 3-1 success at Bolton, yet had been torn to shreds four months later, when thousands of Geordies chanted ‘We don’t know what we’re doing’ during a 1-0 defeat by Wigan Athletic.

'Bolton chairman Phil Gartside was critical of Allardyce's no-nonsense style of football, he just put it in a more polite way than the season-ticket holders at St James' Park'


Earlier this month, bookmaker bet365 made Wolverhampton Wanderers the likeliest club for Allardyce to renew his managerial career - and an appointment makes sense on a number of levels.

Big Sam hails from Dudley and supported Wolves as a child, he guided a similar-sized club (Bolton) to promotion within two years of taking over at the Reebok and then managed to quickly establish the Trotters as a Premier League team. His reign also included the team reaching the Carling Cup final in 2004 and ensuring they qualified for Europe on two occasions.

It’s also clear that (4-1 Cup victories at Watford aside) the Molineux natives are getting restless as far as Mick McCarthy’s reign is concerned. Despite working minor miracles to achieve the play-offs last term, this season has been punctuated by many poor displays, leaving the expectant fans in the same boat as Oliver Twist – wanting more. And it doesn’t make things any easier to see West Bromwich Albion in the ascendancy once again.

Indeed, any club that takes a punt on Fat Sam to be their next gaffer will not have a set of supporters demanding that their team play a stunning brand of football. It’s worth remembering that, despite his success at Bolton, chairman Phil Gartside was hardly full of praise for Allardyce when he stood down towards the end of last season, to be replaced by the doomed regime of Sammy Lee. Gartside was actually critical of his former manager’s long-ball, no-nonsense style of football, he just put it in a more polite way than the season-ticket holders at St James’ Park were doing later in the year.

Could it be that Bolton are ready to swallow their pride and bring the rude and ebullient one back for a second stint? Or have bridges been burnt between the two parties, with Gary Megson doing an adequate if unspectacular job in his absence?

How much longer will the long-ball tactician stay out of management, and which club would have him? Post a comment below or submit an article to Sportingo.