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LMA concerned by bung claims surrounding Premier League managers

The League Managers Association (LMA) has expressed concern following a Daily Telegraph report suggesting eight managers who have worked in the Premier League may have taken "bungs."

The Telegraph reported on Wednesday that eight current and former Premier League managers had been accused of receiving illicit payments by agents. No names were disclosed, but the newspaper announced plans to reveal the identity of "an assistant manager at a leading club who was filmed accepting a £5,000 cash payment from undercover reporters" later this week.

The LMA, which represents bosses working in English association football, said in a statement: "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.

"We are in regular communication with The FA to establish the facts relating to those allegations. 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 Telegraph had previously released a video of Sam Allardyce speaking to undercover reporters in which he offered advice on how to circumvent rules against third-party ownership, leading to his departure as England manager on Tuesday. 

The LMA statement added: "With regard to Sam Allardyce's departure from his role at The FA, the LMA was in regular communication with Sam and The FA throughout the process. We fully respect the decision that they have mutually agreed."

UK Sports Minister Tracey Crouch said in a statement: "The integrity of sport is absolutely paramount and we have been clear that we expect the highest standards of governance and transparency from sports governing bodies, here in the UK and on the international stage.

"In this context, the recent allegations regarding English football are very concerning and we will be discussing the matter with the football authorities.

"All the evidence presented to them must be investigated fully and we stand ready to assist in any way we can."

Damian Collins, the acting chair of the Culture, Media and Sport select committee, said it may be necessary to introduce an independent regulatory body to prevent corruption.

Asked about Allardyce's suggestion that "entrapment has won" after he left the England role, Collins told Sky Sports News: "I don't go with that.

"I think it's been shocking that -- off the Sam Allardyce allegations but also the allegations in the Daily Telegraph today suggesting that eight current and former Premier League managers have taken bungs -- the reaction of many people in football to that has been that they're not surprised.

"The question is: If people in football have been aware that there has been a cultural problem around these sorts of payments, why has there not been a proper investigation?

"Once again it requires external investigation and undercover journalists to try to get the truth out into the public domain and then embarrass the Football Association into doing something about it.

"I would much rather see undercover reporters getting these stories out there than them never seeing the light of day and I fear that's what would happen."

He added: "What the FA needs to do now is launch an investigation into the registration and oversight of football intermediaries and agents and look at the guidelines in terms of conflicts of interest for senior people who work at the FA because if there's a grey area that needs to be cleared up.

"I also question whether there needs to be an independent regulator, an anti-corruption regulator, for football and other sports, rather like the World Anti-Doping Agency is an independent body looking at the use of banned substances."

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