Big Sam was sacked by the Lancashire club on Monday, with the club’s owners saying: "There is nothing wrong with him but…we want a younger, more energetic appointment."
Neeta Laing (pictured), an employment law specialist and partner at lawfirm LHS, says that the former Bolton Wanderers and Coventry City centre-half may have a case for suing Rovers for discrimination.
"What might be fine to say in one country may not be legal in the UK. Blackburn’s new owner clearly referenced Sam Allardyce’s age as one of the reasons for his dismissal, stating a preference for a younger man," Laing said.
"In UK employment law, this is unacceptable as age cannot be used as a reason for his dismissal.
"Football is just one industry witnessing an influx of foreign investment from overseas businesspeople, many of whom will be unaware of employment law in the UK.
"Playing football may be a young person’s game but there is no indication the age of a manager is relevant to performance, indeed many managers’ reputation and experience increases positively with age.
"There are strict age discrimination rules in place to protect workers against dismissal on an age related basis. What may be perfectly standard procedure in one country can be unlawful in the UK. The results of a negative employment law case can be disastrous for a business, both in terms of cost and reputation."
