Close friend of former England manager Sam Allardyce was killed in Manchester bombing – and he quit his job hours after finding out
Jane Tweddle-Taylor had been married to Sam's right-hand man Mark Taylor
A CLOSE friend of former England manager Sam Allardyce was killed in the Manchester terror attack.
Jane Tweddle-Taylor, 51, was killed in the blast after accompanying a friend who was picking her kids up after the concert.
The mum of three is the ex-wife of Mark Taylor, the former Blackpool winger who has been Allardyce's right-hand man at several clubs.
Sam's wife Lynn broke down in tears outside their home in Bolton yesterday.
She said: "I haven't stopped crying. I have been in tears all day.
"Sam spoke to Mark this morning. Mark could hardly speak, Sam could hardly speak.
"It is just horrendous. I am shaking like a leaf. We know them so well.
"It was so evil. They were there having the best time of their life and then it ended in pure evil.”
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Asked if Jane's tragic death triggered Sam’s resignation, Lynn added: "I am sorry, I just don't want to speak about it."
Jane had been looking forward to a holiday in Berlin with her daughters Harriet, 24, Lily, 22, and Isabelle, 20 - a Christmas treat from her girls.
Ex-husband Mark said: "Jane was obviously a very, very lovely lady and a very good mother to three daughters.
"She was full of life and very energetic with the children, going to functions and all sort of different things like skiing. We had loads of happy times."
He said Jane and her pal had been out for dinner and were waiting in the foyer for her kids when the explosion happened.
He said Jane's friend and her kids were ok.
Mark and Sam first worked together at Blackpool in 1995, developing a strong relationship as manager and physiotherapist which took the side to the play-offs.
They later joined forces at Bolton Wanderers, where Mark was appointed head of sports science and medicine by Sam.
Sam also brought Mark with him when he was appointed Newcastle manager, and he later worked with Sam as performance director for Sunderland.