Newell calls for broader inquiry

Luton manager Mike Newell insists the true extent of corruption in football cannot be established without a much broader inquiry into transfer dealings.

Newell - who claimed in January that 'bungs' remained widespread within the game - has revealed his dissatisfaction with the Lord Stevens report issued yesterday.

Lord Stevens cleared parties involved in 345 out of 362 deals of any impropriety - but reserved judgement on a further 17 due to the failure of the agents concerned to co-operate.

Newell said on Sky Sports News: "The game is not clean and Lord Stevens said that yesterday when he was asked the question directly.

"He said he felt there was corruption - and that's the only question where anybody needs to take notice of the answer."

Newell believes the more professional way in which clubs are being run has helped clean things up to a certain degree in recent years - and says any investigation needs to go back further than two years.

He continued: "Go back five or 10 years and involve everybody - because people with nothing to hide will fear nothing.

"They keep rolling these agents out who say the game's clean and only five per cent of activity is being questioned - but they've only gone into (the last) two years in the Premier League.

"In those two years clubs are more professional - so it's not as widespread. But a lot of these agents have made their millions in the last five to 10 years.

"There will be a lot of people breathing a sigh of relief on their yachts and in their villas - and I'm not just talking about agents now."

Newell's comments are at odds with those of others in his profession, including Harry Redknapp and Sam Allardyce, who issued terse ripostes when questioned about the report's findings today.

While Allardyce said he would fully examine the report before making any comment, Redknapp insisted: "There is nothing to find. Nothing in the report surprised me. What is there to find?"

Like Redknapp, Newell clearly regards Lord Stevens' findings as predictable, but for different reasons. And Newell is convinced something good can still come of the Quest team's work.

Newell added: "There is an air of frustration from people over the findings but I don't share that frustration because I'm sure something will come of it.

"I'd be very surprised if people aren't brought to book from the 17 or so transfers they're still investigating. Once you get one or two you can really open a can of worms.

"The fact that some agents didn't co-operate doesn't surprise me at all. I believe the game can become clean if people follow the rules that are put in place."

Meanwhile the Association of Football Agents have urged those eight agents who are yet to co-operate with the inquiry to open their books for the good of their profession.

Agent Willie McKay has revealed he was one of the eight, insisting he had already filled in forms telling the Football Association all they needed to know.

But Phil Smith of the First Artist Corporation said: "Common sense would dictate that those agents who have nothing to hide would help. We have got to establish whether these deals are kosher or not.

"We cannot be the arbiters of other people's businesses. But we have got to concentrate on moving on and fast-tracking towards a situation where we can all move forward in a uniform manner."

The Football Association, who remain in effect the guardians of the transfer system - although the Stevens Report calls for that role to be handed to an independent body - are not yet ready to consider possible sanctions.

An FA spokesman said: "Until we have details of the outstanding transfers, and the agents involved, we cannot comment on what action may or may not be taken."