Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Tommy Wright allegations in latest Telegraph report - 7M sport

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Tommy Wright allegations in latest Telegraph report

QPR boss and Barnsley assistant deny any wrongdoing; Leeds owner Massimo Cellino also filmed by newspaper's undercover reporters


Posted Thursday, September 29, 2016 by Skysports.com

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Tommy Wright allegations in latest Telegraph report
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has denied any wrongdoing in the wake of the latest Telegraph allegations

QPR have launched an investigation after allegations about manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink were made in Thursday's Daily Telegraph.

The Telegraph has published video footage of Hasselbaink and Barnsley assistant boss Tommy Wright as part of its latest report into alleged corruption in football.

Wright has been suspended while Barnsley investigate the claims, and QPR have also promised "a thorough internal investigation". Both men deny any wrongdoing.

Hasselbaink is alleged to have negotiated a £55,000 fee to fly to the Far East and speak to investors in a fictitious firm, which the newspaper says made clear it was interested in getting involved in player transfers.

QPR issued a statement in response promising "a thorough internal investigation" and said: "We have every confidence in our manager and the robust systems and processes the club has in place."

Hasselbaink has denied any wrongdoing and said he saw nothing "unusual in being offered to be paid to make a speech".

His statement added: "I did not make any promises in return. I did not and would not recommend the purchase of a player for my personal gain."

The newspaper, meanwhile, claims to have video footage of Wright accepting a payment it says was offered after the assistant manager agreed to help a fake agents' firm recruit players for Barnsley.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Tommy Wright allegations in latest Telegraph report
Tommy Wright has been suspended by Barnsley pending an investigation

The club released a statement on Wednesday night which said: "Barnsley FC is aware of allegations made by the Telegraph against Tommy Wright. The club has today suspended Tommy pending an internal investigation into these allegations."

A spokesman for Wright told the Telegraph he denies any "acts contrary to criminal law or those of the FA and FIFA".

Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino has also been filmed by undercover reporters discussing FA rules on third-party ownership of players.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Tommy Wright allegations in latest Telegraph report
Leeds owner Massimo Cellino was filmed by undercover reporters

But the newspaper quotes him saying: "I cannot allow myself to make a mistake in England. I don't want to be the one that breach [sic] the rules."

A statement released in response by Leeds United read: "The Club has reviewed the supposed "evidence" that the Daily Telegraph have published. At no time in this video clip has Mr Cellino suggested getting around the FA's rules on third-party ownership of players."

The Telegraph has been conducting an undercover 10-month investigation and on Wednesday published claims from three agents that eight current or former Premier League managers took money for player transfers.

The League Managers' Association said it was "extremely concerned" by the allegations, while The Football Association, Premier League and EFL released a joint statement promising to investigate with "the full force of the rules" any "substantive allegations".



Attention: Third parties may advertise their products and/or services on our website.7M does not warrant the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of their contents.
Your dealings with such third parties are solely between you and such third parties and we shall not be liable in any way for any loss or damage of any sort incurred by you.