Sam Allardyce: What ex-England boss actually said about bungs in football

Allardyce was emphatic in his keenness to dodge the subject of bung taking

Sam Allardyce is greeted by reporters outside his home in Bolton (Getty)

Sam Allardyce was dismissed as England manager after just 67 days - the shortest reign of any man to hold the position “full-time” - for appearing to offer advice to undercover reporters on how to circumvent transfer rules.

The Football Association, Allardyce’s employers until Tuesday night, had banned third party ownership in 2008 and helped influence Fifa into doing likewise seven years later, but the former Bolton and Sunderland boss insisted it was “not a problem” to get around such blockades.

The Daily Telegraph sting successfully dethroned Allardyce in one swoop but the 61-year-old’s comments on bungs – illicit payments to players, managers or senior club officials – were pushed to the bottom of the article.

Allardyce was emphatic in his keenness to dodge the subject after it was allegedly brought up by friend and football agent Scott McGarvey. “Oh, oh, you’re not – do not,” he said, in Manchester’s Wings restaurant. “I haven’t heard that. I haven’t heard that, you stupid man. What are you talking about? You idiot. You can have that conversation when I’m not here.”

He added: “You slipped up tonight. You can’t go there anymore. You can’t pay a player, you can’t pay a manager, you can’t pay a CEO. It used to happen 20 odd years ago, 30 years ago. You can’t do it now. You can’t do it now. Don’t ever go there.”

The Daily Telegraph has since alleged that eight current or former Premier League managers have received the illicit payments. The “under the table culture” of bung-paying was splashed across the front page on Wednesday.

In an article dating back to 2006, The Independent provided a summary of the practice; usually undertaken to “grease” a deal with a secret financial incentive to get it over the line. It has been reported that, in some cases, English clubs have signed players who were actually available for nothing - but fees were paid under false pretences and split between relevant parties.

George Graham, the former Arsenal manager, was infamously sacked in 1995 for receiving a payment of £425,000 from agent Rune Hauge to sign Danish pair Pal Lydersen and John Jensen. Later, Sven Goran-Eriksson was filmed by the News of the World appearing to suggest “bung culture” was rife during his tenure as England manager.

There is no suggestion of Allardyce taking any illegal payments.