Mike Newell, comments from the DM.

<div class="M2FullADate"><div class="M2FullADate"></div></div><div class="M2FullAHeadline">I WILL NAME NAMES</div><div class="M2FullAStandfirst">BUNG SCANDAL 2006 Controversial boss stands by the story that's rocked football Newell: I've got no problems digging people out.. I hope other managers will back me but I'm not expecting a queue</div><div class="M2FullAByline">John Cross</div><p align="left">MIKE NEWELL last night vowed to name names after the Football Association promised to launch a full investigation into his stunning bung allegations.</p><p align="left">The Luton boss made a string of claims that illegal payments were commonplace within the game and insisted he had evidence to back up his attack on agents, players and chairmen.</p><p align="left">It shocked the game's rulers into action yesterday as the FA promised to act on his allegations in a desperate effort to stop the game's reputation from being dragged through the mud again.</p><p align="left">But as Newell found himself under the spotlight, he was unrepentant last night - and promised to back up his claims with evidence. In the past there have been knowing looks, winks and rumours and no real evidence to stand up in court. But Newell maintains he is ready to blow the game apart.</p><p align="left">Newell received a fax from the FA as soon as he arrived at his office at Kenilworth Road yesterday morning. And he made it clear he is prepared to give them names, figures and facts at Soho Square next week.</p><p align="left">Newell, who never employed an agent during his playing or managerial career, said: &quot;Yes, I have been offered sweeteners by agents and by certain club officials to sell players from this club and I have no problem substantiating that at all or digging people out.</p><p align="left">&quot;I can substantiate everything that I've said and I can sleep soundly in my bed at night. I am not the one in trouble and I have no fear of getting into trouble. I have no fears about meeting anyone from the FA. I just hope it doesn't get swept under the carpet again. It has got out of hand.</p>

<p align="left">&quot;I have no worries. It's in the hands of the authorities now. Anything that I have said can be substantiated. I would hope that people who struggle against agents will back me up. Whether they will or not is down to them.</p>

<p align="left">&quot;I can't speak for other people or other clubs. My frustration is that money goes out of the game and that is ultimately supporters' money. I can't put figures on the bungs because when it comes to me I tell them I'm not interested. I've never given it a minute's thought.</p>

<p align="left">&quot;I've never had an agent and never had anything that wasn't due to me in my contract. I have nothing to hide. I fear that there won't be a queue of people to back me up. If I was bent, I might have taken the money.</p>

<p align="left">&quot;This is far too big for me now. I was just venting my frustration and giving my opinion on the scourge of the game.</p>

<p align="left">&quot;I know other managers don't like agents. I don't see how money can be allowed to go out of the game. I am only dealing with League One and the Championship - I can only imagine what goes on at Premiership level.&quot;</p>

<p align="left">It is clear that Newell has been left incensed by what he claims is the &quot;bung culture&quot; surrounding transfers, but he also widened the net yesterday with an attack on how players negotiate contracts.</p>

<p align="left">&quot;I have no problem with a player having an agent but I can't understand why the club pays the agent. Why don't the players pay the agent?&quot; said Newell. Ever since George Graham was suspended for a year in 1995 after being found guilty by a Premier League commission, there have been plenty of whispers and insinuations about backhanders between agents, managers and players.</p>

<p align="left">However, no one has ever put their head above the parapet and provided enough evidence to make anything stick. It drove the FA's former compliance officer Graham Bean to distraction and his frustration at football's habit of protecting its own led to him quitting his role.</p>

<p align="left">Bean, who now runs a consultancy representing managers and players AGAINST the FA, says football has been presented with a &quot;golden opportunity&quot; by Newell's calls to clean up its act - but cast serious doubt whether it will have any effect.</p>

<p align="left">Bean said: &quot;This is the sort of opportunity that I always wanted at the FA but, make no mistake, burden of proof is high. It will have to be something that will stand up in court and be watertight so, for that reason, I am a little wary of getting too excited about it.</p>

<p align="left">&quot;The first thing any defence solicitor will say is 'why didn't you bring it to our attention at the time?' There could also be an issue as to why he withheld information from the authorities. &quot;But this is a golden chance for the FA to show they mean business and put some credibility into the compliance unit.</p>

<p align="left">&quot;My personal feeling is that money has changed hands in this way for years but, in more recent times, football has cleaned up its act to a degree. But I am quite sure it still happens all the time in inter-continental transfers.</p>

<p align="left">&quot;Nine times out of 10 you know in your own mind that something illegal has happened but getting proof is quite another thing. We could never find the final piece of the jigsaw on so many occasions.</p>

<p align="left">&quot;Football is a multi-million pound industry but it's also a cottage industry. They look after their own.</p>

<p align="left">&quot;Newell has given the FA a good starting point but sadly, my gut feeling is that little or nothing will come of this.&quot;</p>

<p align="left">Bean, who now runs a consultancy representing managers and players AGAINST the FA, says football has been presented with a &quot;golden opportunity&quot; by Newell's calls to clean up its act - but cast serious doubt whether it will have any effect.</p>

<p align="left">Bean said: &quot;This is the sort of opportunity that I always wanted at the FA but, make no mistake, burden of proof is high. It will have to be something that will stand up in court and be watertight so, for that reason, I am a little wary of getting too excited about it.</p>

<p align="left">&quot;The first thing any defence solicitor will say is 'why didn't you bring it to our attention at the time?' There could also be an issue as to why he withheld information from the authorities. &quot;But this is a golden chance for the FA to show they mean business and put some credibility into the compliance unit.</p>

<p align="left">&quot;My personal feeling is that money has changed hands in this way for years but, in more recent times, football has cleaned up its act to a degree. But I am quite sure it still happens all the time in inter-continental transfers.</p>

<p align="left">&quot;Nine times out of 10 you know in your own mind that something illegal has happened but getting proof is quite another thing. We could never find the final piece of the jigsaw on so many occasions.</p>

<p align="left">&quot;Football is a multi-million pound industry but it's also a cottage industry. They look after their own.</p>

<p align="left">&quot;Newell has given the FA a good starting point but sadly, my gut feeling is that little or nothing will come of this.&quot;</p><p align="left" />

<p align="left">HOW THE GEORGE GRAHAM DEAL WORKED</p>

<p align="left">Hauge contacts Graham over players he has available</p>

<p align="left">Graham tells Arsenal board to buy two players</p>

<p align="left">Hauge receives commission from Arsenal</p>

<p align="left">Hauge receives commission from players' club</p>

<p align="left">Hauge pays £425,000 'bung' in used £50 notes to Graham</p>

<p align="left">WHAT HAPPENED NEXT: Graham sacked by Arsenal repays bung to club and is banned for a year. Hauge is banned for Hauge is banned for life, later reduced to 2 years, and goes on to represent Ole Gunnar Solskjaer - and was also involved in and was also involved in Rio Ferdinand's £18m move from West Ham to Leeds.</p>

 

Thats your career over then ha ha ha.