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Sam Allardyce has resigned as manager of Crystal Palace after keeping the club in the Premier League and suggested he would retire, saying he has "no ambitions to take another job." The 62-year-old said in a statement through his representatives that he was stepping away, confirming multiple reports earlier in the day that he would step down. Palace posted the statement on their website without further comment. The reports said he had told club chairman Steve Parish that he would be quitting after failing to receive assurances about Palace's summer transfer plans, but in his statement Allardyce said he made the decision to spend more time with his family. "Steve Parish has been superb during our conversations today," Allardyce's statement said. "I know it came as a shock to him that I would walk away but our discussions have been incredibly civilised with no recriminations and no fall-out. "This is not about transfer targets, club finances or anything along those lines. This is me taking the decision I believe is right for my family and myself." Allardyce took charge of Palace in December with the club sitting 17th in the table and went on to guide them to a 14th-place finish -- keeping up his record of never having been relegated from the Premier League. "In some ways, this has been a very difficult decision to make but in others it has been a simple one," Allardyce said. "I will always be grateful to Crystal Palace and Steve Parish for giving me the opportunity to go out with my head held high having helped keep the club in the Premier League." Allardyce had signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with Palace when he succeeded the sacked Alan Pardew in December. He took the Palace job three months after leaving the England manager's post -- after just 67 days and one game in charge -- following a sting that saw him filmed advising undercover journalists on how to circumvent rules against third-party ownership. And Allardyce said Palace "gave me a chance of rebuilding my reputation after what happened with England." "I felt I needed another shot at being a Premier League manager and showing that I still had the ability to achieve something significant. As I said last weekend, Palace gave me the chance of rehabilitation. "That's why it's hard walking away now. I believe the club are heading in the right direction with a hugely supportive board of directors, a great squad of players and some of the most passionate fans I've ever met. It's been a privilege to have worked for them for the past five months. "But there comes a time when you have to take stock of what direction you want your life to take -- and that's been the simple part for me." Allardyce then said he will not be looking for an immediate return to management with another club. "I want to be able to savour life while I'm still relatively young and when I'm still relatively healthy, even if I'm beginning to feel all my 62 years," he said. "While I've got the energy, I want to travel and also spend more time with my family and grandchildren without the huge pressure that comes with being a football manager. I owe that to my wife and family. "This is the right time for me, I know that in my heart. I have no ambitions to take another job, I simply want to be able to enjoy all the things you cannot really enjoy with the 24/7 demands of managing any football club, let alone one in the Premier League." Allardyce has managed six clubs in the Premier League -- Bolton, Newcastle, Blackburn, West Ham, Sunderland and Palace -- and has never been relegated. He concluded: "I would like to thank everybody for their messages of support since the news broke. I've no doubt I will miss management, but I certainly have no regrets at this decision."
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