LMA hits back at BBC
20 Sep 2006 - 12:37:11
The League Managers' Association has reacted angrily to claims made about several of its members in the Panorama documentary on transfer bungs.
The BBC programme alleged Bolton Wanderers boss Sam Allardyce was prepared to accept illegal payments as part of transfer deals and that his Portsmouth counterpart, Harry Redknapp, was guilty of making an illegal approach.
Both Allardyce and Redknapp insisted they had not breached any regulations, and LMA officials have now accused the programme's makers of failing to offer any concrete evidence to back up their claims.
An LMA statement read: "As the organisation which represents professional football managers in this country, we were very disappointed with the BBC Panorama programme.
"There was a complete lack of substance and evidence to the pre-programme assertions and claims which were being made.
"If the BBC has any hard evidence then it should hand that evidence to the Football Association and Lord Stevens.
"All our members are fully aware of their responsibilities and of the need to act professionally and with the utmost integrity at all times.
"There has been considerable debate about the transparency of the football transfer system and the role of agents both in this country and abroad.
"The LMA supports any full and thorough investigation into these issues and welcomes the publication of the Lord Stevens report in the near future.
"If there is any evidence of financial misconduct within football then let it be brought out into the open and the guilty parties treated accordingly."