LONDON -- England is on the verge of hiring Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce to take charge of the national team as Roy Hodgsons successor.A person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the English Football Association is close to finalizing Allardyces appointment.The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the appointment has not been made and the FA board, which is due to meet on Thursday, has to approve new coaches.The FA has to secure Allardyces release from Sunderland, which urged for a swift resolution last week after revealing that the 61-year-old Englishman had held talks with England.At the present time Sam Allardyce remains Sunderland manager, Sunderland said in a statement on Wednesday evening. We share in the anger and frustration of our supporters and would like to assure them that we are working to conclude the matter in the best interests of Sunderland.The FA began searching for a new coach three weeks ago when Hodgsons hopes of extending his four-year stint were ended by an embarrassing loss to Iceland in the last 16 of the European Championship. The defeat prolonged the countrys trophy drought since the 1966 World Cup.England has little time to dwell on the humiliation in France with qualifying for the 2018 World Cup beginning with an away match against Slovakia on Sept. 4.Allardyce has 25 years of experience in management, including spells in the Premier League with Bolton, Newcastle, Blackburn and West Ham.Although Allardyce has never won a major trophy as a player or coach, he has a reputation for improving struggling teams.Allardyce joined Sunderland in October and helped the team stay in the Premier League, further improving his credentials for the England job.Like Hodgson, Allardyce never appeared as a player for England. Ken Boyer Jersey .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Orlando Cepeda Cardinals Jersey . 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Getting set to go their separate ways for a short Christmas break, the Raptors coach credited his team for their effort on a seemingly impossible three-game road trip, urging them to build on that success when they get back to work at the end of the week. PITTSFORD, N.Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Rex Ryan struck a less optimistic tone Saturday about a left knee injury to rookie linebacker Reggie Ragland, backing off his belief that Ragland avoided ligament damage when he was hurt in Fridays practice.Im not real sure [about ligament damage], Ryan said. I guess I was just so hopeful theres not going to be ligament things. My understanding is that as you get going, your leg is so tight, theyll fight it. You dont really get a true look of that. So as we mentioned, we got to wait for that swelling to go down.I know every Bill fan out there is hoping for the best, and thats certainly what were doing, but there is concern.A source said that more could be known about the severity of Raglands injury as soon as Sunday. With uncertainty over Raglands availability, Ryan said the Bills will work out free-agent linebackers Sunday, although he did not identify which players would be visiting.Ragland, the Bills second-round pick in Aprils draft, was pursuing running back Reggie Bush toward the sideline on a play during Fridays practice when he pulled up limping and immediately went to the ground.It just looked odd, Ryan said Friday. It wasnt hit. None of that stuff. So sometimes those can be the worst ones, so Im hoping -- we just havve to keep our fingers crossed and hope hes fine.ddddddddddddThe Bills traded up to select Ragland with the No. 41 overall selection. General manager Doug Whaley said the team considered selecting the Alabama linebacker with its No. 19 pick in the first round, but Buffalo drafted Clemson defensive end Shaq Lawson instead.Lawson is expected to miss the first several games of the regular season after undergoing shoulder surgery this spring.Ryan already had named Ragland as the expected starter at inside linebacker alongside Preston Brown. Veteran Zach Brown replaced Ragland with the first-team defense for the remainder of Fridays practice.Id rather not think about it, but were in capable hands, Ryan said of the possibility of losing Ragland for an extended period. We have a couple of pretty good inside backers, guys that are doing well right now -- Zach Brown and Randell Johnson -- so one guy would have to step up.In addition to Ragland, the Bills also are dealing with injuries to inside linebackers Kevin Reddick, who Ryan said Saturday is expected to miss multiple weeks, and Jamari Lattimore, who Ryan said could return as soon as Monday. ' ' '