BIG Sam Allardyce has wasted no time in selecting Sammy Lee as his new right hand man writes Gordon Sharrock

The Wanderers boss, who lost his assistant manager, Phil Brown, and first team coach, Neil McDonald, last week, has hand-picked the England coach to head up his new backroom staff.

Wanderers are refusing to comment on the speculation but I understand everything has been agreed and the 46-year-old former Liverpool and England midfielder - one of the most respected coaches in the game - could be on board in a matter of days.

Lee, a valued member of Sven Goran Eriksson's full-time staff, will continue to work with England on a part-time basis, at least until next year's World Cup Finals, but will bring a wealth of experience to the Reebok.

He also has the advantage of knowing the territory, having played for Wanderers for two seasons in the early 90s, when his old Liverpool team-mate, Phil Neal, recruited him to boost his push for promotion.

A knee injury restricted him to just five senior appearances, but he spent a season playing reserve team football for the Whites and left a lasting impression on those he worked with.

He returned to Liverpool in 1992 and became an influential member of the coaching staff, building a reputation that led to him being drafted into the England set-up, but left Anfield when Rafael Benitez took over as boss.

Allardyce moved swiftly after the shock departures of his two most seniors aides - Brown was unveiled as the new manager of Derby County on Friday evening just hours after McDonald was confirmed as Iain Dowie's assistant at Crystal Palace - and chairman Phil Gartside did the rest, negotiating an agreement with the Football Association that would allow Lee to continue his work with the national team.

Lee, a diminutive but infectiously enthusiastic and intelligent footballer, had a glittering playing career, winning two European Cups, three League Championships and four League Cup winners medals in a glorious 10-year stint with Liverpool, winning 14 England caps.

He had spells with QPR, Osasuna in Spain and Southampton before joining Wanderers in October 1990. But in his fourth league appearance, he suffered a recurrence of an earlier knee injury and missed the rest of the season.

He recovered enough to play reserve team football but was unable to force his way back into the first team.

It is understood the post of first team coach will remain vacant while Allardyce considers a range of options.