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<SPAN class=news_story_title>Newcastle Fires Kevin Bond After TV Program on Soccer `Bungs' </SPAN>
By Peter-Joseph Hegarty
Sept. 26 (Bloomberg) -- Newcastle United fired assistant coach Kevin Bond, making him the first to lose his job after a BBC television investigation into corruption in soccer.
``Newcastle United has terminated Kevin Bond's contract,'' the Premiership team said in a Regulatory News Service statement. ``There is no further comment from the club.''
BBC's Panorama examined illegal kickbacks, or ``bungs,'' paid to managers by agents to smooth the transfer of players. Bond, who denies wrongdoing, was secretly recorded allegedly saying he would consider receiving payments from an agent.
English soccer's governing body is investigating claims in last week's program that Bolton manager Sam Allardyce accepted payments in transfers and that Portsmouth's Harry Redknapp wanted to recruit a player already under contract with another club, which is contrary to league rules.
Both deny wrongdoing, and Allardyce said he may take legal action. The 49-year-old Bond was working at Portsmouth at the time of filming. He joined Newcastle as assistant to coach Glenn Roeder in July.
Bond intends to take legal action over the TV program, the BBC reported, citing his lawyer, David Price. The coach accused Newcastle of firing him ``without any proper investigation into the allegations,'' the BBC said on its Web site.
``Newcastle have made their decision solely on the basis of a few sentences carefully selected and edited by Panorama,'' Bond said. ``I intend to pursue all legal avenues to vindicate my reputation and restore my career and livelihood.''
Last night Allardyce and Redknapp's teams met in the Premiership, with Bolton winning 1-0 at Fratton Park.
To contact the reporter for this story: Peter-Joseph Hegarty in London at at <SPAN class=httplink>phegarty@bloomberg.net</SPAN> Last Updated: September 26, 2006 07:03 EDT
By Peter-Joseph Hegarty
Sept. 26 (Bloomberg) -- Newcastle United fired assistant coach Kevin Bond, making him the first to lose his job after a BBC television investigation into corruption in soccer.
``Newcastle United has terminated Kevin Bond's contract,'' the Premiership team said in a Regulatory News Service statement. ``There is no further comment from the club.''
BBC's Panorama examined illegal kickbacks, or ``bungs,'' paid to managers by agents to smooth the transfer of players. Bond, who denies wrongdoing, was secretly recorded allegedly saying he would consider receiving payments from an agent.
English soccer's governing body is investigating claims in last week's program that Bolton manager Sam Allardyce accepted payments in transfers and that Portsmouth's Harry Redknapp wanted to recruit a player already under contract with another club, which is contrary to league rules.
Both deny wrongdoing, and Allardyce said he may take legal action. The 49-year-old Bond was working at Portsmouth at the time of filming. He joined Newcastle as assistant to coach Glenn Roeder in July.
Bond intends to take legal action over the TV program, the BBC reported, citing his lawyer, David Price. The coach accused Newcastle of firing him ``without any proper investigation into the allegations,'' the BBC said on its Web site.
``Newcastle have made their decision solely on the basis of a few sentences carefully selected and edited by Panorama,'' Bond said. ``I intend to pursue all legal avenues to vindicate my reputation and restore my career and livelihood.''
Last night Allardyce and Redknapp's teams met in the Premiership, with Bolton winning 1-0 at Fratton Park.
To contact the reporter for this story: Peter-Joseph Hegarty in London at at <SPAN class=httplink>phegarty@bloomberg.net</SPAN> Last Updated: September 26, 2006 07:03 EDT
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