Former Bolton and Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce has revealed that since leaving St James' Park in January, he has not received a single offer. "The Republic of Ireland offer came immediately after I left Newcastle and I just wasn't in the right frame of mind" Allardyce told the Daily Mail.

"I had a chat with Blackburn but I quickly realised it wasn't going to happen.

"There was an issue with some of the fans because of my close association with Bolton. But more than that I could see Paul Ince was their man and I took a step back."

Allardyce also notes that another obstacle which has kept him in the shadows is the crop of young ex-players who have come into the management scene recently.

He said: "I don't really want to express an opinion on what seems to be a bit of a trend, giving these jobs to young managers. It's the right of every football club to appoint the manager they want. But we'll see how things turn out because it's a tough old business."

Unable to talk of his experience at Newcastle after signing a confidentiality agreement Allardyce reflects on the success he achieved at Bolton and on the fickle nature of the football industry.

"I don't think I need to prove myself," he said.

"You don't become a bad manager overnight, even if things do change quickly, even if you can be flavour of the month one minute and out of favour the next.

"I look at the staff I had at Bolton as well as Newcastle, and know that I built a good team.

"I take great pride in what Phil Brown is now achieving at Hull. I helped him along the way and he is now proving that I was right to have him alongside me at Bolton."

Big Sam is now prepared to look beyond a Premier League berth.

"I would consider each managers job on its merits," he explained.

"Look at the Championship. It's never been tougher in that league and there can only be three or four teams in there that haven't had a taste of Premier League football.

"I'm sure I will soon be back involved. I just have to be patient, and perhaps wait until January.

"That's often a time when chairman start to panic and make changes.

"I know that to my own cost."