Big Sam exits Europe before a ball has been kicked as he tells reporters he voted for Brexit

England manager Sam Allardyce is out of Europe already before a ball has been kicked – he voted for Brexit, The Sun on Sunday can reveal.

The Three Lions coach made the revelation as he spoke to reporters at his old club Sunderland.

Big Sam, 61, who was given the England job last week, said: ”I am out. My feeling is that the European Union isn’t doing the United Kingdom any favours.”

A source said: “Sam is very open and honest and he went around the room asking everybody if they were Leave or Remain.

“He is Old School, though that is not to say that he is a dinosaur, always looking back to a so-called golden past.

“Sam is a passionate Englishman and had obviously weighed everything up before making his decision.

“The joke going around afterwards was that it was fortunate that Sunderland would never play in Europe.

“Now he’s England manager that will change”

Sam was also keen to play down the physical likeness between him and comedy England boss Mike Bassett.

Actor Ricky Tomlinson plays hapless Bassett in a film about the ups and downs of being England coach.

The source said: “It was a no-no area and it was like the elephant in the room all the time.

“Sam does look a bit like Ricky in the film and there was money on who would have the guts to ask him.

“But it was made known by his support team that it wouldn’t be appreciated so nobody had the nerve.

“He gets a little annoyed when anybody infers he is a footballing dinosaur relying on kick and rush.

“Sam is quick to let you know he was one of the first footballing innovators to bring in sports science.

Sam was one of the first coaches to bring sports science into football whilst manager of Bolton.

He has vowed to use the best dietitians and statisticians in every post – including England boss.

He said after Sunderland escaped Premiership relegation: “I go with the experts.

“I always rely 100 per cent on the science, the statistics, analysis and the dietitians.

“I get annoyed when people think of me as some throw back. I am an innovator.”

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