Sam Allardyce Blames Manchester City Players For Mark Hughes' Sacking

"It looks like that has been the ultimate problem for Mark and that's very, very disappointing when he's gone out and he's brought those players to a club like that with huge amounts of money, not just in transfer fees but also in salaries.

"These are the sort of salaries they would never get anywhere else in the world of football in their entire careers.

"They had an obligation to have done and given more and from afar it looks like they haven't done so.

"That to me looks like it's triggered the ultimate sacrifice which is the manager - we are always the first to get chopped and that's a great shame."

Allardyce believes Hughes, who left Blackburn to take over at City 18 months ago, had not been given enough time.

"He will be frustrated because it's never happened to him before, it's his first one which is always more difficult," added Allardyce.

"No matter what people say outside of football, we don't work for money, we work for the love of the game and the money is something that follows.

"Any football club that is any good is down to the manager more than anything else. He did a great job here and he was on the brink of trying to do a great job at Man City but unfortunately has not been given enough time."