Scottish agent caught in sting

Football agent Scott McGarvey claimed the meeting he arranged for sacked England manager Sam Allardyce with what turned out to be a fictitious firm was arranged in good faith, according to his solicitor.

Former Manchester United footballer McGarvey was said by his solicitor to have been shocked by the turn of events, with the Glaswegian adamant he had not engaged in any wrongdoing.

The Daily Telegraph claimed the first meeting was organised by McGarvey at the May Fair Hotel in London on August 19.

The agent was said to be involved when Allardyce met two undercover reporters posing as businessmen last week, with the England manager expressing his discomfort when, according to the newspaper, McGarvey turned the subject to paying people to secure business.

Graham Small, a partner at Manchester-based JMW Solicitors, representing McGarvey, said his client had been “naive” and denied comments being attributed to him.

“Mr McGarvey has admitted being eager to impress what he believed to be prospective employers and, in doing so, had perhaps embellished certain comments made during the meetings in question,” Small said in a statement.

“However, he vehemently denies making remarks which are being attributed to him.

“Some, including his apparently having done business with certain club managers, are simply not borne out by fact.

“Mr McGarvey had merely helped arrange meetings in good faith to further what he believed to be a legitimate business venture.”

Scott McGarvey