Shepherd And Allardyce - Uneasy Partnership?

We all know Shepherd chose the players that arrived at St James' Park, but would that work with Sam Allardyce?

I'm not suggesting the Magpies supremo picked the names of the players, but with Graeme Souness and Glenn Roeder, he certainly chose from the list put in front of him. Souness confirmed that, and although the ex-Bolton boss is seen as doing miracles with players "past their sell-by date", he has never had interference from his chairman. And that goes with the territory at St James' Park.

Shepherd insisted at the weekend that he had not spoken to Allardyce either before or after he announced his decision to leave the Reebok Stadium despite fevered speculation that he was on his way to St James' Park.

However, it is understood that his availability could prompt Shepherd to renew his interest in the man he tried to land as Sir Bobby Robson's successor in September 2004.

On that occasion, Allardyce rejected Newcastle's advances and although he was touted for the job once again following Graeme Souness' departure in February last year, Roeder's performance as caretaker earned him the nod.

Allardyce, who was also a serious candidate for the Sunderland job during the summer before Roy Keane was appointed, was immediately installed as a hot favourite with bookmakers Ladbrokes suspending betting at 1-4.

As for Shepherd, he could well be concerned about the massive embarrassment if he went to Allardyce again and Big Sam said "no".