Allen axed by Leicester after just 96 days

Martin Allen was sacked by Leicester chairman Milan Mandaric last night — just three games into the Championship season and after taking charge only in the close season.

The move completed a fraught 24 hours for the club after defender Clive Clarke, on loan from Sunderland, collapsed in the dressing room at half-time during the Carling Cup second-round tie at Nottingham Forest.

It was revealed yesterday that paramedics had to restart Clarke's heart twice in the Leicester dressing room.

Allen, who guided Leicester to a 4-1 victory over Watford at the Walkers Stadium last Saturday, paid the price after falling out with his highprofile chairman.

Incredibly, Mandaric has already interviewed Gary Megson, Peter Reid and David Pleat about taking over.

Allen, who was manager of Brentford and MK Dons before being given his big chance at Leicester, was axed after telling Mandaric he did not want the chairman to interfere in team selection and transfers.

He had been given money to spend at Leicester in the summer by his ambitious chairman but a parting of the ways seemed inevitable after they clashed over Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

The striker claimed he had been training at Chelsea over the summer to keep fit and produced documents to back that up, but Allen still wanted the 35-year-old Dutchman to have a 30-day trial.

Mandaric was keen on signing the former Chelsea and Holland striker but Allen refused to sanction the move. That lead to the breakdown and Mandaric has been lining up replacements since.

Allen, who was on a £300,000-a-year contract, will be paid six months' salary. First-team coach Adrian Whitbread, who was with Allen at Brentford and MK Dons, has also been dismissed.

One of the game's more colourful characters, Allen once swam in the Solent during winter when in charge of Brentford to inspire his side before an FA Cup tie against Southampton.

Having signed 14 players during 96 days in charge, he is the third manager to leave the Walkers Stadium in the last six months following Rob Kelly and Nigel Worthington.

Allen's eyes were opened to Mandaric's methods when he was summoned to a three-hour meeting after the opening-day defeat to Blackpool. But yesterday's drama pales in light of that 24 hours earlier.

Clarke was making steady progress in hospital yesterday after his collapse at Forest, but his agent, Gary Mellor, said: 'It appears Clive's heart stopped twice and mouth-to-mouth didn't work so the paramedics had to use a defibrillator.

'His family are very upset, especially after what happened with Sevilla player Antonio Puerta. We just hope he's going to be OK.'

Clarke is being treated in the cardiology unit of the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham, and Mandaric said yesterday : 'It is encouraging news that he is stabilising. I am encouraged by what I am hearing from the doctors.

'He is comfortable and the situation is improving. They are running more tests. The doctors are pleased with the progress he has been making. It is sad we have to deal with something like this.'

Allen, speaking before he was sacked, paid tribute to the club's medical staff when he said: 'I must say head physio Dave Rennie and sports scientist Damien Doyle were outstanding in dealing with a traumatic and difficult situation. We are lucky both members of staff were on hand at such a difficult and testing time.'

Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn, who signed Clarke from West Ham before manager Roy Keane's appointment last summer, added: 'The news filtered through to us at the Carling Cup defeat against Luton and immediately our thoughts were with Clive and his family. Leicester and Forest officials reacted magnificently.'