Scottish agent Mcgarvey arranged meeting for ex-england boss in good faith, says lawyer

Footballagentscottmcgarvey has said via his solicitor the meeting he set up for Sam Allardyce with what turned out to be a fictitious firm was arranged in good faith.

Mcgarvey is said by his solicitor to have been “shocked” by the turn of events, with the former Manchester United and Scotland Under-21 player adamant he has not engaged in any wrongdoing.

Allardyce left his position as England manager last night as a result of the sting by the Daily Telegraph which claims the first meeting was organised by Mcgarvey at the May Fair Hotel in London on 19 August.

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

Allardycewasshownputting a napkin over his head and calling the agent a “stupid man”.

Later during the meal, Mcgarvey is reported to say “no, no I wouldn’t go down there” in reference to paying individuals. Graham Small, a partner at Manchester-based JMW Solicitors, representing Mcgarvey, said his client had been “naive” and is denying 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. He was so convinced by the job offer made to him that, far from profiting from these exchanges, he even incurred debts trying to support the development of the new project.

“Given that he is still involved in the football industry, he is rightly concerned about the possibility of his good name being impugned and he intends to vigorously defend his reputation.”