Newcastle gaffer Sam Allardyce has ruled himself out of the running in the race to find Steve McClaren's successor as England boss.The 53-year-old, who came close to landing the job after Sven-Goran Eriksson's departure, was quick to distance himself from the vacancy following McClaren's exit on Thursday morning.

Allardyce was allowed to throw his hat into the ring by Bolton chairman Phil Gartside last year before McClaren eventually got the job, but insisted he is not in the same position this time around.

He said: "I am contracted to Newcastle United and from my point of view, that contract needs to be honoured.

"I am not in a position like I was at my old club where the chairman openly extended the invitation for me to go for the position. I am not in that position now."

Asked if he was ruling himself out, he replied: "Yes."

More Football News from TEAMtalk