Why Big Sam is hoping to win his version of The Apprentice tonight

By David Anderson in Mirror Football Blog

Published 23:00 09/02/10

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Sam Allardyce hopes he will be cast as Sir Alan Sugar tonight when he clashes with the man he calls his "apprentice".

Phil Brown has proved to be Allardyce's star pupil from the various coaches schooled by the Blackburn boss during his own managerial version of the hit TV show.

Like a proud father, Big Sam has been delighted by Brown's success in transforming Hull from a struggling Championship side into a Premier League club.

But all that admiration will go out the window when the pair meet at Ewood Park and Allardyce is desperate to be the one saying "you're fired" at the final whistle.

"From my point of view, Phil is the apprentice and you never want your apprentice to beat you," he said. "The rivalry is there and I always want to win no matter who we play.

"We spent a long time together over many, many years and shared a lot of good times. Phil, in his own right, is becoming more and more established and successful and he will want to continue that by getting a result.

"I just hope on Wednesday he is very, very miserable because I've stopped his run. But whatever happens, we will share a glass of wine afterwards."

Allardyce revealed the pair have been acting as agony aunts to each other during their recent winless runs and says he finds their chats invaluable.

"We talk regularly on many subjects," he said. "We share the ups and downs of football. It's not so much about advice, for both of us it's unloading.

"You're in this job and not many people understand what you go through - the traumas and the pressures - and talking to other managers is the best way to get rid of it and unload.

"Your experience of talking to other managers is invaluable, particularly when times are not good and you might be getting a bit of criticism.

"We were both having a run without a win we were talking about the very thin line which decides whether you get a bit of criticism or praise. That line is so thin now in terms of which side you fall on.

"Brownie particularly, has been dragged through the mill recently. He's had the ups and the glory side of it and the not so glorious side of it. But he's come through it with recent great results."

Brown is one of three of Allardyce's old Reebok bootroom to manage in the Premier League along with Sammy Lee and Ricky Sbragia and he is beginning to rival Sir Alex Ferguson with his old-boy network.

Allardyce is proud they have all gone on to do well and joked that he will never work with them again because he can't afford them.

"Me, the new Fergie?" he said. "Ha, ha. Well I do have Scottish parents. I do look at the careers of the staff I have worked with and I'm very proud that generally most of them are working in the Premier League.

"It's all moved on in terms of where they are working and who they are working for. I can't afford them anymore so they won't be working with me again."

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