Sunday 25 December 2016 19:58, UK
Sam Allardyce insists he is ready for the challenge of trying to keep Crystal Palace in the Premier League after emerging from his England nightmare a "better, stronger man".
Allardyce was confirmed as Alan Pardew's successor on Friday - just 87 days after he was sacked as England manager - signing a two-and-a-half year deal at Palace following talks with chairman Steve Parish.
The 62-year-old had long coveted the role of England manager, but lasted just 67 days in the job after being filmed discussing ways to circumvent Football Association rules on player transfers during an undercover Daily Telegraph investigation into corruption in football.
In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports reporter Geoff Shreeves, Allardyce admitted he was surprised to be given an opportunity to return to management prior to the new year and hopes he can maintain his record of never being relegated from the Premier League.
"I know I'm the same man. I'm probably a better man for the experience. In adversity you have to become stronger and make sure you don't make those mistakes again so you learn from it," said Allardyce, who took charge of first Palace training session on Christmas Eve.
"When you're sacked as a manager you have to look at what you did wrong, look at yourself and don't blame other people. Yes, there are contributing factors all over the place but you have to look at yourself and move on.
"To be honest with you it was such a blur for me when it happened so I can't recall that much. Then my family, like they always have been, were there and told me to go away, move on and then this offer came up.
"I didn't think anything would come until perhaps the new year but like I've said I'm ready for it and I'm looking forward to getting stuck in. Everybody sees I'm good at this from the past track record and hopefully I can deliver again."
Allardyce has previously kept Bolton Wanderers, Blackburn Rovers, West Ham and Sunderland in the top flight during his 20-year career in club management and takes over a Palace team that currently sit in 17th place, having lost eight of their last 10 Premier League matches.
When asked why he felt Palace was the right opportunity for him to return to football, Allardyce added: "Players, club, ambition, it has all that. Palace have been established in the Premier League and want to go a bit further.
"They've got some new investment from new owners that have taken a partnership with Steve, money has been invested and hopefully more money in the future will be because investment is the way forward at every business and football club.
"If we get recruitment right, the atmosphere right and the players here play to their full potential, we should get out of trouble. But there is no guarantee of that."
Palace endured a dismal 2016 in the Premier League under Pardew, winning just six of their 36 matches and picking up only 26 points, which has left them precariously close to the drop zone.
Allardyce will be in the dugout for the first time as Palace manager when they travel to Vicarage Road to face Watford on Boxing Day - live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 12pm - and he admits it is imperative to find a quick solution in order to arrest their current slide down the table.
"Part of this job is finding quickly what the faults are making them better. It's very important to establish that as quickly as possible," he said.
"Obviously, first and foremost, I have to improve the players on the field in terms of getting a result. From 2015 where they were fifth in the league to 2016 it's become difficult.
"The team struggled to score goals but were defensively sound, now the team seems to score a goal but are quite weak defensively.
"I've got to try and balance that situation here we don't want to take away from the flare and goal ability but make sure when we are scoring a goal it is winning us a game."
