Sam Allardyce, the former England manager, is suing an Irish property developer for £3.5million in a dispute over a failed business venture.
Allardyce, who was sacked by the Football Association in 2016 after just 67 days in charge, is taking legal action against John O’Dolan, who he has described as a “thug in a suit”.
The dispute centres around a property development in the Irish town of Carrick-on-Shannon, which Allardyce claims he was promised a share of the profits from.
Allardyce, who is now manager of West Bromwich Albion, claims that O’Dolan reneged on the agreement and instead sold the development for a much higher price than he had promised.
Allardyce is now seeking £3.5million in damages from O’Dolan, who he claims has “caused him considerable distress and embarrassment”.
The case is due to be heard in the High Court in London later this year.
Allardyce has been involved in a number of business ventures since leaving the England job, including a property development in the Caribbean and a sports consultancy firm.
He has also been linked with a number of football clubs, including Newcastle United and Crystal Palace, but has yet to take up a managerial role since leaving the England job.
The case against O’Dolan is the latest in a series of legal disputes involving Allardyce.
In 2017, he was sued by a former business partner over a failed property venture in the Caribbean.
He was also sued by a former employee of his consultancy firm, who claimed he was owed more than £100,000 in unpaid wages.
Allardyce has denied any wrongdoing in both cases and is now seeking to recoup his losses from O’Dolan.
The case is likely to be closely watched by the footballing world, as it could have implications for Allardyce’s future in the game.
If he is successful in his claim, it could provide a much-needed financial boost for the former England manager, who has been out of work since leaving the national team.
However, if he is unsuccessful, it could have a damaging effect on his reputation and could even lead to him being barred from taking up a managerial role in the future.