Bond critical of Newcastle support

Former Newcastle assistant coach Kevin Bond has criticised the club for not supporting him in the wake of bung allegations which he claims led to him being sacked at St James' Park.

Bond had his contract terminated yesterday as the fall-out from last week's Panorama probe into corruption in football continued to have repercussions.

However, Bond, who has strenuously denied suggestions he was ready to discuss receiving illegal payments, revealed that his lawyers are ready to go to court to demand full transcripts from the BBC to prove his innocence.

"I'm so disappointed with Newcastle. When I needed support, I've had none," he said. "They have taken no time for reflection, they've been judge and jury and I've been the only person to have lost my job out of this."

Bond is set to decide whether to take legal action on two fronts after accusing Newcastle of sacking him without fully investigating the bung allegations in last week's Panorama expose.

It is understood Bond, who has received support from his friends in football, will pursue legal action against Newcastle as well as the BBC following his sacking as Glenn Roeder's number two at St James' Park.

"I intend to pursue all legal avenues to vindicate my reputation and restore my career and livelihood," confirmed a statement from Bond's solicitors.

The statement added: "I am extremely disappointed that Newcastle have chosen to terminate my contract without carrying out any proper investigation into the allegations made against me in the Panorama programme.

"My lawyers will shortly be going to court to compel the BBC to release full transcripts of the recordings.

"Rather than waiting for this and the outcome of any FA investigation, Newcastle have made their decision solely on the basis of a few sentences carefully selected and edited by Panorama."

Former Norwich, Southampton and Manchester City player Bond only arrived at St James' Park in July after Roeder, who worked with him at West Ham, persuaded him to head north.

His departure leaves Roeder — who has been accompanied in the dug-out only by Terry McDermott and Lee Clark since the UEFA Cup clash with Levadia Tallinn earlier this month — once again without an assistant, as he was last season.