Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce is set to be appointed England's next manager in the next 24 hours, Sky Sports reported on Wednesday, citing unnamed sources. England have been without a coach since Roy Hodgson stepped down following their Euro 2016 exit to Iceland in the last 16 and Sky said Allardyce would be ratified as his replacement at a Football Association board meeting on Thursday. Allardyce, 61, has been manager at Sunderland since last October and managed to steer them clear of relegation last season. His coaching CV has included spells at Bolton Wanderers, Newcastle United, Blackburn Rovers and West Ham United and he has never been relegated from England's top flight. Allardyce has been the favourite for the job, since Sunderland confirmed last week that they had given the FA permission to speak to their manager about the vacant England position. Hull City manager Steve Bruce was also interviewed for the job, while British media reported the FA had spoken to United States' German head coach Juergen Klinsmann as well as Bournemouth's English coach Eddie Howe. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
