Source: Daily_Mail
Spurs assistant boss Bond ditches his bung libel action
Kevin Bond has dropped his libel action against the BBC
Tottenham's assistant manager Kevin Bond last night dropped his libel action against the BBC Panorama programme following Sportsmail's revelations.
After a three-year fight against the makers of Football's Dirty Secrets, which was due to be heard in the Royal Courts of Justice on Monday, Bond pulled the plug after Sportsmail revealed the BBC was planning to name three high-profile football managers accused of taking bungs.
This will be seen as a major embarrassment for Bond, who has spent tens of thousands of pounds pursuing the case.
A statement from the BBC said: 'Mr Bond has discontinued his libelclaims against the BBC. We have not apologised, we have not paiddamages and we have not paid any of his legal fees.
'We stand fully behind the journalism and were prepared to take itto trial. Mr Bond was the only person to bring a claim in relation tothe programme.'
There has been no comment from Bond despite several attempts to contact him.
Sportsmail revealed on Tuesday that the BBC legal team, fronted by leading QC Andrew Caldecott, were preparing to show the libel jury 50 hours of unseen footage which included three top-class managers being named and shamed for taking secret payments.
Bond was filmed by the BBC investigative team three years ago when assistant manager of Portsmouth.
The film inferred he would consider taking undisclosed payments from football agents.
By the time the programme was aired, Bond was assistant manager at Newcastle, who sacked him following the revelations, which he has always strenuously denied.
His present employers Tottenham insist Bond's job is safe, despite the disclosures.
