Former Newcastle United boss throws his name into the hat for the vacant Wales job

Former Newcastle United head coach Sam Allardyce has announced himself as an unlikely candidate for the Wales job following the dismissal of Rob Page.

Page was dismissed after failing to qualify for Euro 2024 and suffering a heavy defeat to Slovakia.

The Welshman guided the national side to the 2022 World Cup where they were knocked out in the group stage.

At 69 years old, many would have thought that Allardyce would be ready to give up management for good and move on to other ventures.

But this is not the case for the former Toon boss, who still eyes another managerial stint before calling it a day.

Allardyce wouldn't say no to Wales interview.

Speaking on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast, Allardyce was asked whether the Wales job interested him.

He said: "I've had quite a few Welsh coaches and know them quite well, you never know if you get on the shortlist for an interview.

"I'd always take an interview, I wouldn't turn an interview down, you've got a team that's done brilliantly over the last few years but who are the next generation, where's the next Gareth Bale, teams like that always have to have one special player.

"With other countries, they have one special player that can actually make the expectations for the nation greater than what they think because they can win a game any time."

Former Newcastle man Kevin Nolan joined Allardyce on the podcast.

When asked whether he would join the former England manager at Wales he said: "I'd work with him on anything"

Allardyce's stint at Newcastle was far from memorable.

Following a successful spell at Bolton Wanderers, Allardyce joined the Magpies in May 2007, which coincidentally was the same period that former owner Mike Ashley bought the club.

He brought in the likes of Jose Enrique, Mark Viduka and Alan Smith. He got off to a good start winning five of his opening nine games.

The form quickly disappeared however and Allardyce was dismissed in January 2008 after a run of bad results.