England

LMA "extremely concerned" by bribe allegations against unnamed managers

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 28 September 2016

The League Managers Association expresses deep concern at allegations that 10 unnamed managers took bribes as part of player transfers.

The League Managers Association has admitted that it is "extremely concerned" by allegations that as many as 10 unnamed managers accepted bribes as part of player transfers.

The allegations arose in The Telegraph on Wednesday as part of the newspaper's undercover investigation into corruption at the top levels of English football.

Separate revelations from the investigation have already resulted in Sam Allardyce stepping down from his position as England manager after just 67 days in the job, while several football agents have been secretly filmed claiming that eight managers with Premier League experience and two from the Championship had taken bungs.

"The LMA is extremely concerned by the current situation of allegations made against a number of managers. We take the allegations very seriously as they are obviously damaging to the game," read a statement from the LMA.

"We know the FA has requested full disclosure from the Telegraph of all the relevant information it has, and we are working with the FA in dealing with the allegations, following the correct processes and procedures."

The newspaper is later this week expected to disclose the name of an assistant manager of a high-profile club who was filmed taking a £5,000 cash payment from reporters posing as representatives of an Asian firm that wanted to invest in players.