Big Sam named by BBC bung special
Allardyce has strongly denied any wrongdoing
Also In The News
|
Published by HarperCollins, out now in paperback, 615 pages, £15. |  |
Tuesday, 19, Sep 2006 11:23
Bolton manager Sam Allardyce has been implicated by a BBC Panorama special into bungs in football.
Allardyce, who was a contender for the England manager's job earlier this year, was named by two agents as a manager who had allegedly taken part in corrupt transfer dealings, something he has strongly denied.
One agent, Peter Harrison, claimed money was given to the Bolton manager's son, Craig, as part of transfer dealings involving players moving to Bolton.
"We say we'll give Craig some money and Sam says yeah okay we'll do a deal," Harrison, captured on a hidden camera recording, said.
The BBC named three specific transfers where they claim money was exchanged as part of the deal, including the transfers of Hidetoshi Nakata and Tal Ben Haim.
Panorama claim 18 Premiership managers, past and present, have been implicated in their investigation into corruption in football, with all the parties specifically named by the BBC strongly denying the accusations.
Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp is one manager who is claimed to be linked with the allegations.
The undercover reporter posing as an agent records a conversation between Harrison and Redknapp about the possibility of signing Blackburn defender Andy Todd, one of Harrison's clients - something illegal under Football Association rules.
Chelsea are also implicated by the programme for making an illegal approach for a Middlesbrough youth-team player, Nathan Porritt.
It is claimed Chelsea's director of youth football, Frank Arnesen, offered Harrison a deal which would see the England youth international move to Stamford Bridge, before Boro knew of the interest - in violation of FA rules.
The allegations could have serious implications for the Premiership champions, who have a suspended three-point deduction hanging over their heads after being found guilty of making an illegal approach for Ashley Cole, while the player was at Arsenal.