Although the Covid-19 pandemic hasn’t helped the post-Brexit rules are imposing further problems. Premier League clubs can no longer sign players from the EU without a work permit and players under the age of 18 are completely off limits.
Because of this, Allardyce is finding it hard to sign new players. He is
quoted as saying: “I have found three players already who were capable of coming here and they're not allowed. It's a shame. Due to the new regulations in terms of the permit they were unable to come to this country, whereas (previously) they would have done. I have to look at that and think 'can he qualify?'
While some will sympathise with Allardyce, others not so much as he is on the record as voting for Brexit. Before the EU referendum, when he was still Sunderland manager,
The Sun reported that Allardyce asked all of his squad if they were for Leave or Remain adding, “I am out. My feeling is that the European Union isn’t doing the United Kingdom any favours.”
The former England manager also appeared on talkSport radio in December 2018 to complain about the numerous delays to Brexit under the leadership of Theresa May.