Allardyce adamant he will survive

Allardyce was forced to defend himself on Monday after reports of senior players dissenting over tactics, training and plans to stay away from the north-east over Christmas.

"Today's politically correct society believes that that's a disruption, but that's an everyday occurrence as a manager," he said.

The former Bolton boss admits he is "under the cosh" after watching his struggling team claim just a single point from their last five Barclays Premier League games.

But he scoffed at any suggestion of his having lost control of the dressing room, insisting confrontation is a fact of life for a football manager.

"Players are not happy about a lot of the stuff I do because they're players and I'm the manager," he said.

"I'm the man who knows what's right for them and I know it more than they do. That's why I sit in this chair. It's immaterial.

"When you're having a bad time there are always elements and factors trying to make a big deal of things.

"Somebody will have a problem with something or other, whether it's how you go about the week, wanting to play, off the field. There's always something a player doesn't like. Some of it sneaks into the papers," he added.

"Whoever did it might think it's making a point, but it will only make me more resilient and stronger. I just find it disappointing it ends up in the paper, but that's life."