Sam Allardyce is set to walk away from football management after quitting Crystal Palace.

Allardyce, 62, took charge of The Eagles in December on a two-and-half-year deal, tasked with keeping them in the Premier League which he has done.

But now the former England boss has decided to quit whilst on a high, in order to spend more time with his family.

After news of him leaving Palace broke, his odds on going back to Sunderland were very short – but it soon emerged that he had no plans to come back into management.

“I want to be able to savour life while I’m still relatively young and when I’m still relatively healthy enough to do things I want,” said Allardyce.”

“This is the right time for me. I have no ambitions to take another job.”

Sources close to Allardyce have confirmed that he will not officially ‘retire’ but he has no plans to come back into the game.

He will receive a sizeable bonus for keeping Palace in the league, but clauses in his deal also mean if he returns before the end of his deal in 2019 – he would be liable to pay back the money, something which he has now plans to do.

It is understood there has been some interest from China in Allardyce in recent months, but at this moment he has no interest in making any move abroad.

I understand that the news has come as something as a shock to chairman Steve Parish – although the Palace chief is unlikely to be too fazed having clashed with Allardyce on more than one occasion during his tenure.

Parish will now look at his options with Wales boss Chris Coleman an early favourite to come in at and take charge.