"Sam (Allardyce) is very much key to our plans," the club said in a statement on its website. Briefcase 1 England are without a manager after Roy Hodgson quit2 Jurgen Klinsmann is the other contender3 Big Sam is currently preferred by a host of pundtis to take up the big jobThe Football Association (FA) has contacted Sunderland to speak with manager Sam Allardyce for the vacant England post, the English Premier League club said on Wednesday, adding they have agreed to the request. (Also read: England could struggle to find a top manager, says FA boss Greg Dyke)"After what was an extremely challenging season, we are keen to see a period of stability, both on and off the field, and we want him to remain as manager of our football club."

Source: India Today July 13, 2016 11:14 UTC