BBC's bungs programme attracts attention before broadcast

The BBC programme about agents offering bungs still has yet to have its content cleared by lawyers, but it is already attracting much attention.

Luton manager Mike Newell will appear on Panorama next Monday to reassert that agents are offering bungs.

"It's more widespread than people think," Newell said. "People were very skeptical when I said it last year but they have got to get their heads out of the sand."

At the same time, one of the agents at the centre of the bungs controversy said he plans legal action against the programme.

Ian Elliott, who represents Middlesbrough and England winger Stewart Downing and is Paul Gascoigne's former agent, admitted he met undercover reporters working on the investigation, which is threatening to expose a number of leading figures in the game.

Elliott was introduced to the reporters, who posed as businessmen working for an American tycoon looking to form a new sports agency, by another agent Peter Harrison.

"I agreed to a meeting because I was told these people wanted to buy my company, Elliott Sports Management, for £1.2 million," Elliott said. "It all seemed too good to be true. The meeting did not last long. Afterwards I told my accountant and lawyer that things didn't add up."

Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp, Bolton manager Sam Allardyce's son Craig and Sven-Goran Eriksson's agent Athole Still have all been linked to the covert sting by the BBC. There is no suggestion at this stage that they have behaved inappropriately and all deny any wrongdoing.

BBC lawyers are now vetting the programme, due to be screened next Monday. It is possible many of the more serious allegations will not be aired because of a lack of substantial proof.

The reporters have been working on the investigation since last November.

The BBC probe comes as Lord Stevens puts the finishing touches to the six- month Quest investigation into 362 transfers involving Premier League clubs between 2004 and 2005. He is due to report to the league chairmen on Oct 2. Reporters from Panorama have contacted Quest but, so far, no exchange of information has taken place.

"If there was nothing to be found Lord Stevens would have said so by now and called it to a halt. I would be amazed if they don't find anything," Newell said.

Source: euFootball.BIZ © Copyright 2006 - All rights reserved.