jazza Posted September 10, 2006 Share Posted September 10, 2006 EXCLUSIVE: BBC Bung storm Beeb bung names revealed By Rob Beasley THE News of the World can reveal the football clubs, managers and staff targeted in the TV bung row tearing soccer apart. High-profile staff at Bolton, Portsmouth and Middlesbrough have had letters from the BBC's Panorama programme telling them they have been suckered into an elaborate sting aimed at exposing the bung culture in English football. Among the BBC's targets are Pompey manager Harry Redknapp, ex-player Kevin Bond, now at Newcastle, and Craig Allardyce, son of Bolton boss Sam. Others involved are soccer agent Peter Harrison, Sven Goran Eriksson's manager Athole Still and England star Stewart Downing's agent Ian Elliott. Undercover They were among a long list of soccer personalities introduced to a German businessman called Knut Aufdemberge. He claimed to represent a mega-rich American tycoon, Paul Silverman, who wanted to launch a new, money-rich sports agency in the UK called Dynamic Soccer. What the football men did not know was that the two "businessmen" were really undercover BBC investigators. The pair secretly recorded meetings and conversations over a six-month period. They tried to persuade some of their targets to offer huge sums of money to Premiership managers illegally in a bid to involve them financially in the new agency. All the BBC targets vigorously deny any wrong-doing. They insist they refused to offer or accept bribes. Harrison even sent an e-mail to Aufdemberge last April threatening to report him. He then wrote to the FA two weeks ago, warning them that two mysterious businessmen were attempting to bribe Premiership managers. But before that, Harrison helped set up a meeting between Redknapp, Bond and Aufdemberge at Portsmouth's training complex. We contacted both Harrison and Redknapp last night and both refused to comment. The Portsmouth manager has made it known that he has contacted his lawyers to defend his reputation. One man who did go on the record was Ian Elliott, who insisted he had done nothing wrong. Buy He explained: "I agreed to a meeting because I was told these people wanted to buy my company, Elliott Sports Management, for ??1.2million. It all seemed too good to be true. "The meeting did not last long, about 20 minutes I think. "Afterwards I told my accountant and my lawyer that things just didn't add up. "And I must stress that the subject of paying managers or players was never raised by me or by them." Bolton boss Sam Allardyce is privately furious that BBC bosses tried to take advantage of his son. Craig Allardyce quit being a sports agent last month amid concerns he could be compromising his father's position in the game. The BBC sting began last November when Aufdemberge first contacted Harrison. The pair had a number of meetings and dinners to discuss the project. Aufdemberge claimed Silverman wanted to form a "super" agency in England. His plan was to unite a number of top English agents who would work together to take on the game's biggest names. Dynamic Soccer claimed they would pay managers cash bungs of around ??200,000 to get involved in their company. But the News of the World understands that all the BBC's targets refused, insisting the plot would breach FA rules. Harrison claims he was told he alone could earn a staggering ??1.8m if he could help to launch the agency successfully. The agent was so keen to cash in he even wrote a detailed business plan for Silverman to put into operation and also recommended a number of agents who might be interested. Corruption He suggested Ian Elliott, Craig Allardyce and Athole Still. A BBC insider said: "All the agents fell for the story. "They had no idea the company was not for real or that the two individuals were in fact reporters. "The tactics were to persuade them to offer Premiership managers large sums of money to get involved in the company. It was hoped it would uncover widespread corruption. "Now there is a big legal row over what Panorama can or cannot screen." FA chiefs have vowed to investigate, providing the BBC shows them its evidence. The programme is due to be screened later this month ??? providing it gets the green light from lawyers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gregbwfc Posted September 10, 2006 Share Posted September 10, 2006 When I read about it this morning and the report stated 2 prem managers were involved,I'd have been surprised if it wasn't BSA and Spazzy Eyes.Question is,if there has been any wrong doing,is there a precedent for points deductions,or will we be made an example of?Not paranoid or anything,like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Casino Posted September 10, 2006 Moderators Share Posted September 10, 2006 can i just ask people respect the position of unhappy/wanderersways if they wish to comment on this thread thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gregbwfc Posted September 10, 2006 Share Posted September 10, 2006 can i just ask people respect the position of unhappy/wanderersways if they wish to comment on this thread thanks No problem with that,Casino.The thought it may involve our fella is just due to me thinking "they"ARE all out to get us! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sluffy Posted September 10, 2006 Share Posted September 10, 2006 I can't recall if the following Sun article was posted on here about 3 weeks back - apologies if it was. I posted on bb at the time my thoughts - namely that "Its interesting to try and read between the lines on this interview." Makes me wonder even more about it now! http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2002390...6380442,00.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Site Supporter MickyD Posted September 10, 2006 Site Supporter Share Posted September 10, 2006 ,is there a precedent for points deductions,or will we be made an example of?Not paranoid or anything,like. Didn't George Graham get a 12 month ban or something? Don't recall the gooners loosing points though so, yes, there is a precedent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Carlos Posted September 10, 2006 Moderators Share Posted September 10, 2006 (edited) I'll be honest here, I read that in the NotW and heard about the Panarama programme and put 2 and 2 together. I'd love it if Des McBain was implicated Edited September 10, 2006 by Carlos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Casino Posted September 10, 2006 Moderators Share Posted September 10, 2006 (edited) I'll be honest here, I read that in the NotW and heard about the Panarama programme and put 2 and 2 together. I'd love it if Des McBain was implicated my mate desmond we exchanged views once when id been queuing for about 9 and a half weeks for tickets for some game or other desmond walked up and down the queue and directed some folk - who he obviously knew - to the promotions office, where they got their tickets bstard he didn't like me calling him desmond Edited September 10, 2006 by Casino Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Carlos Posted September 10, 2006 Moderators Share Posted September 10, 2006 my mate desmond we exchanged views once when id been queuing for about 9 and a half weeks for tickets for some game or other desmond walked up and down the queue and directed some folk - who he obviously knew - to the promotions office, where they got their tickets bstard he didn't like me calling him desmond You know the sources of my info I'm sure, think of a Smiths song and replace Glove with Till Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mounts Kipper Posted September 10, 2006 Share Posted September 10, 2006 is it any suprise that sams son has quit as a football agent and sam never got the england job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wiggy Posted September 16, 2006 Share Posted September 16, 2006 Was about to Bextor with a new thread but a good friend told me yesterday that Sam will be named in the programme. Couldn't give me any more detail unfortunately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exiled Girl Posted September 18, 2006 Share Posted September 18, 2006 Newsnight just mentioned Fadiga. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whoareya? Posted September 18, 2006 Share Posted September 18, 2006 Feck me, it's all over the show now. Lead story on Teletext!! (that is BIG) not to mention TeamTalk (that is bollocks) I'm getting a bad feeling about this one. nb. lawyers are poised Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Casino Posted September 18, 2006 Moderators Share Posted September 18, 2006 (edited) http://www.givemefootball.com/news.html?ne...p;type=domestic gonna be a late night tomorrow night home from walsall and then need to watch that id be surprised tbh if those accused didn't know exactly what was in the show before it's aired Edited September 18, 2006 by Casino Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Traf Posted September 18, 2006 Share Posted September 18, 2006 Any truth in the rumour that they are investigating the Oscar Perez transfer? PS As for the bung enquiry: no smoke without fire IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andybwfc Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 Does'nt look good! http://www.ananova.com/sport/story/sm_2001344.html Allardyce 'concerned' over tv programme Bolton manager Sam Allardyce has admitted his family are "concerned" about possible allegations in the BBC's Panorama investigation into football to be screened on Tuesday. Allardyce and his agent son Craig are understood to have been among those investigated by the programme. The Bolton boss said: "We are concerned but at the moment, because I am linked with it, from a legal point of view, I cannot say any more than that. I will take a view after the programme has come out because I do not know what is in it." The full allegations to be made in the programme, to be shown on BBC1 at 9pm on Tuesday, are still unknown - indeed BBC lawyers are still poring over the footage. What is definite is that Luton manager Mike Newell will name the agents he claims offered him a bung. The Panorama investigation, called 'Undercover: Football's Dirty Secrets', is also set to make damaging allegations about at least one Premiership manager. The programme will also show football agent Charles Collymore being secretly filmed telling investigators that "six to eight managers" who would be "definitely up for a bung" and he goes on to name managers and clubs - though it is not definite as to whether Panorama will publicise those names. Collymore says: "There's managers out there who take bungs all day long??? xxxxx, you know that, takes bungs all day long. We've got xxxx FC yep all day long. I would say to you comfortably there's six to eight managers we could definitely approach and they'd be up for this, no problem." Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp has already insisted he has nothing to fear from the programme, for which he was secretly filmed as well. Newell tells the BBC: "I think it's become a culture in football and it's almost accepted and brushed under the carpet." The programme is based around filmed conversations between agents and undercover journalists posing as representatives of a new agency called Dynamic Soccer. The BBC believe they have uncovered some damning testimony that will "rock football". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wiggy Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 I know that it's still a big 'if' at the moment, but if Sam is proven to have taken a back-hander surely we should show him the door immediately. Despite everything he's done for us, if this is true then in my mind it's unforgivable and all respect I ever had for him would be gone forever. I know that Natasha has joked about him nicking her hot dog but in effect that is exactly what he would have done - stolen from the hard working average fan. I hope to god that this isn't true. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frank_spencer Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 I know that it's still a big 'if' at the moment, but if Sam is proven to have taken a back-hander surely we should show him the door immediately. Despite everything he's done for us, if this is true then in my mind it's unforgivable and all respect I ever had for him would be gone forever. I know that Natasha has joked about him nicking her hot dog but in effect that is exactly what he would have done - stolen from the hard working average fan. I hope to god that this isn't true. even if his name comes up in this panorama programme it could be a load of guff, hard evidence would be needed before the club would act! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wiggy Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 Totally agree, but assuming such hard evidence is made available..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweep Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 I know that it's still a big 'if' at the moment, but if Sam is proven to have taken a back-hander surely we should show him the door immediately. Despite everything he's done for us, if this is true then in my mind it's unforgivable and all respect I ever had for him would be gone forever. I know that Natasha has joked about him nicking her hot dog but in effect that is exactly what he would have done - stolen from the hard working average fan. I hope to god that this isn't true.I understand what you are saying, but I would temper that with the notion that there probably isn't a single manager in the Premier League who hasn't taken some form of "deal-sweetner" in his time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smiley Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 Who wouldn't take a bung? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yardbones Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 I think the very fact that he has come out and voiced concerns about what is in the programme suggests there is no smoke without a fire. The only surprise now would be if he doesn't have some mud thrown at him; however it is a well-known fact incriminating paper trails in cases such as this are very hard to find. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wiggy Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 I'm still curious about what people think should happen to any manager actually found guilty of taking a bung - let's pretend for an instance that they have been caught on camera admitting to it. What action should be taken against them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Casino Posted September 19, 2006 Moderators Share Posted September 19, 2006 can't believe he won't know whats in the show before its aired be a bugger to concentrate on tonights match otherwise and he says his family are worried, and we all know craig has recently jacked in football if a succesful football manager took a payment from an agent to take on a player...a player he was willing to take anyway...and it didn't cost the club any more...why would anybody care to sack that manager i mean, i can think of one succesful club in the north west where it takes forever to do every transfer deal its not like the manager getsa bung and it goes straight through Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exiledwhite2 Posted September 19, 2006 Share Posted September 19, 2006 Mike Newell has come out and said that the bungs he spoke of a while ago were offered to him by this Collymore chap. Fact is, taking bungs is plain and simple stealing from the club and by proxy the fans. Anyone caught at it should be punished exceedingly harshly. George Graham should be too ashamed to show his face after what he did to the fans - who had given him a life of luxury as player and manager of Arsenal. As Yardbones says though, hard evidence in these cases is very difficult to find. It stinks. Allardyce and Ferguson having sons who are agents is very peculiar too, it beggars belief they are so naive (or brazen) in such a public job. can't believe he won't know whats in the show before its aired be a bugger to concentrate on tonights match otherwise and he says his family are worried, and we all know craig has recently jacked in football if a succesful football manager took a payment from an agent to take on a player...a player he was willing to take anyway...and it didn't cost the club any more...why would anybody care to sack that manager i mean, i can think of one succesful club in the north west where it takes forever to do every transfer deal its not like the manager getsa bung and it goes straight through If the manager wanted the player anyway, why take the payment? And it's also illegal on a number of counts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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