Big Sam's Big Problem Is Football's Big Problem

Samuel "Big Sam" Allardyce has been in football since before I was born.

He is, easily, a Bolton Wanderers legend. Player and Manager for nearly 600 games combined over a combined 15 year period. He has been a 'legendary' figure among various supporters for his comments and ability to get the best out of a limited set of players.

Being pictured at a music venue, at aged over 60, 'raving it up' certainly did his stock no ill.

However, over a ten year period, he has been mired in the dirtier claims. 10 years and one week since he was first accused by BBC Panorama, he was named in the Telegraph of conversations that the paper insinuates may have breached the laws of the game. Big Sam, and the FA, had their meeting and decided he was to depart.

I'm not going to toe the 'it never happened' line - Big Sam, and his cohorts, are the people that football has bred over the past 50 years since Jimmy Hill broke the maximum wage schedule. People who no longer believe they are beyond the pale asking for money for simple things.

I'm not saying what has happened is wrong. That's for the FA to determine. And that they did.

Money is rife in the game - at the top level. It is limited at lower levels, but the delusion remains.

I've seen a contract between a coach and club that saw him being paid £200 to stand on the touchline - where he already stood - and be named on the bench as a player. That same contract said he'd be paid £1000 if he played. The person he'd replace, a goalkeeper, was paid substantially less for the same job.

The person in question, who is no longer in the game at a professional level, was paid substantial amounts as a coach to represent the club, but still demanded more to slightly change his role. That is what young players are told - do your job. If they want something more - expect more.

Agents are now the biggest cancer in the game. They have been for some time.

The Wolf of Wall Street is a comic book to some agents. They're parasites. I'll grant you, there are one or two that are prepare to accept the organic growth of their clients - but most of the despicable worms are looking only for the next transfer - often within days of the last.

I'm involved in a "National League System" Step 4 club - the eighth tier of the pyramid. We shouldn't be a target. It almost seems that, with Jamie Vardy, that we are now the next hunting ground. A major bookmaker came calling to interview our next "Vardy". Then an agent pulled their client towards a higher grade club a few weeks later. I wonder whether that client regrets that move now.

The club I represent hopes to do things right, has a little bit of honour in a fairly classless world.

Dear footballer, if you want to be treated with respect, please call us.