The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
FA demands disclosure as Saint Wright turns sinner
BLACK: Former Aberdeen star is next sting victim but denies wrongdoing
The FA is awaiting “full and unfettered disclosure of all available material from the Daily Telegraph” as the corruption allegations engulfing football saw Southampton assistant manager Eric Black implicated and Tommy Wright lose his job.
Barnsley assistant head coach Wright was sacked after he was filmed apparently saying staff at other clubs could possibly be persuaded to give information about a player to a management company for money. He has denied the allegations.
The FA said it had yet to receive requested material and that it wanted to investigate matters fully as soon as possible.
The FA’s statement came just hours after Wright lost his job following the Telegraph’s report he took a £5,000 payment from reporters posing as representatives of Far East investors.
The 50-year-old Scot, who maintains his innocence, was suspended after the allegation came to light on Wednesday.
Wright is the second man named by the Telegraph in its undercover investigation into corruption in football to lose his job, following England’s now exmanager Sam Allardyce.
Wright was filmed apparently telling agents and reporters pretending to work for a bogus Asian investment firm that he could place players at the Championship club in return for illicit payments.
According to the newspaper, when Wright was offered an envelope it claims contained banknotes, he said “cheers, just put it there”, indicating an adjacent seat.
Barnsley’s response to the report came within an hour of the League Managers Association saying it was frustrated with the newspaper for failing to hand over all of its evidence.
Southampton pre-empted the implicating of Black with a statement saying the club “intends to work closely with (the FA and Premier League) on this matter when the facts become clear.
“Southampton Football Club is fully committed to investigating any situation that directly or indirectly relates to our club, employees or the wider community.”
According to the Telegraph, Black attended a meeting arranged by Scott McGarvey, the football agent who also teed-up the Allardyce meeting.
At the meeting, the Telegraph claims the pair told a reporter they believe to be a potential investor how club officials could be persuaded to pass on information to a management company. Black has denied the allegations. QPR manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Leeds owner Massimo Cellino have also been implicated in separate controversies.
Hasselbaink is alleged to have requested a fee of £55,000 to work for a Far East firm seeking to sell players to the club.
A club statement said it is investigating the matter, with chief executive Lee Hoos and director of football Les Ferdinand meeting the 44-year-old Dutchman at their Harlington training ground. Hasselbaink has strongly denied the claims.
Leeds have dismissed the Cellino allegations as a “non-story”.
The Italian appears to suggest to members of a fictitious Asian firm that they become shareholders in the club in order to receive portions of players’ transfer fees.