"?Southampton assistant manager Eric Black has become the latest name to be compromised in English football's corruption scandal over alleged bribes.
"?On Thursday the Daily Telegraph released footage of the Saints coach offering advice on how to bribe other clubs' officials with "a couple of grand" during a discussion over player transfers.
Black reportedly goes on to state that officials at lower league outfits "won't have an awful lot of money" so "it doesn't take too much to get these people involved", before going on to name one such individual at a Championship club.
Southampton have confirmed that they are now "?prepared to investigate the claims made against Black.
Football Association rules explicitly state that payments, such as those referred to by Black, are banned and that any potential breach of the law should be reported to the police as soon as possible.
The meeting between Black and the Telegraph's reporters, who posed as Far East investors, was arranged by long time friend and football agent Scott McGarvey, who was implicated earlier in the week for his role in revealing the names of eight current or ex-Premier League managers who are believed to have taken illegal payments, or bungs, over transfer dealings in the past.
A spokesperson for Mr Black released a statement late on Thursday, in which the former Motherwell gaffer and Aston Villa caretaker manager protested his innocence.
How Southampton's Eric Black advised "?businessmen' how to bribe lower league staff to get players for fictitious"? https://t.co/DwGWzSkX7w
The spokesperson said: "[Mr Black] does not recall Mr McGarvey making suggestions that football officials should be paid during transfer negotiations "? this was not the purpose of the meeting so far as our client understood it. Any suggestion that he was complicit in such discussions is false."?
Southampton had already released their own statement on Wednesday evening ahead of the revelations that were due to be released by the Telegraph.
The club said: "Southampton FC has today been made aware by the Daily Telegraph that, as part of their ongoing investigation, the club's assistant first-team manager Eric Black will feature as part of an article in tomorrow's paper.
#SaintsFC has issued the following statement in relation to Assistant First Team Manager Eric Black: https://t.co/whNS6bDEO9
"The club immediately requested to be sent, by the Daily Telegraph, the details of this article, but the newspaper declined to share any further information. We have today contacted the FA and the Premier League, and intend to work closely with both bodies on this matter when the facts become clear.
"Southampton FC is fully committed to investigating any situation that directly or indirectly relates to our club, employees or the wider community."
The incident is just the latest in a week where English football's reputation has been dragged though the mud corruption claims.
"?Former England manager Sam Allardyce was relieved of his duties on Tuesday after allegations over his alleged involvement in knowing how to breach third party ownership rules was revealed.
"?Barnsley assistant boss Tommy Wright was also sacked by his employers after being named as the individual who supposedly took a £5,000 bribe over one particular transfer.
Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino and "?QPR manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink are also embroiled in the scandal that has engulfed football in the past 72 hours.
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