The Telegraph investigations unit revealed more of their sting operations this evening. Barnsley assistant manager Tommy Wright was filmed accepting money in a brown envelope. Leeds United's highly eccentric chairman Massimo Cellino offered to sell 20% of the club to get around rules on third party ownership of players.
While QPR manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink played hardball and negotiated a £55,000 to act as an ambassador for a company that proposed selling him players. Hasselbaink agreed to travel to Singapore to talk to the (fictitious) investors in this (fictitious) firm.
According to the Telegraph, he appeared open to signing players from the same firm, despite the apparent conflict of interest. Hasselbaink is recorded saying, "give me a fucking player. But it has to be a good player."
Tonight, Hasselbaink, through his lawyers, denied any wrongdoing and said he'd offered no promises to the fictitious agency in return for speaking to their investors in Singapore. He said he not ask QPR to sign any of the players thought managed by this agency.
I have today, through my lawyers, responded in full to the accusations levelled against me by The Telegraph. I was approached by Mr. McGarvey and Ms. Newell purporting to be players' agents. They offered me a fee to make a speech in Singapore. I do not see anything unusual in being offered to be paid to make a speech. I did not make any promises in return. I did not ask QPR to purchase any of the players who were said to be managed by Mr. McGarvey and Ms Newell and would not recommend the purchase of a player for my personal gain. I deny any accusations of wrongdoing on my part.
QPR promised the obligatory thorough investigation.
