Newell: Tip of the iceberg

[Jack]

Luton Town manager Mike Newell insists that any potential wrongdoings discovered in Lord Stevens' current investigation are just the tip of the iceberg.

It was Newell's revelations in January that acted as a catalyst for the investigation into transfers, with Lord Stevens concentrating his delving on those that involved Premiership clubs.

Having scoured over the evidence, Lord Stevens has requested more time to look closer at a total of 39 transfers, but Newell feels that this figure would be greatly increased if the investigation scanned the whole of The Football League.

Newell, who claims he has been offered illegal payments or 'bungs' in the past, has offered his full support to Lord Stevens and his team of investigators.

"I think 39 is a big number," he told the Daily Express. "How many do people want before they realise something is going on?

"I'm convinced if Lord Stevens was also investigating The Football League, he could multiply those 39 by four or five.

"I've had my phone off because I knew I'd be asked for my views, so I haven't given any until now.

"I thought he (Stevens) handled it well, and I'd love him to get a result."

While the headlines have been made over alleged illegal payments, Newell feels that it is agents at the core of any corruption and he makes no secret of his desire to curb their involvement in football.

"The headlines have all been about bungs. I can understand that," he continued.

"And I have to take the share of the blame here because I did talk about the money that had been offered to me, and I'd been offered bungs.

"But the big issue tended to get lost. Bungs make the headlines and I know they are being paid, but the real issue and the biggest point I'm trying to get across is the ludicrous amounts being lost to the game because it is being paid to agents.

"This is money that shouldn't be paid. The clubs are to blame for paying it and the agents must be controlled to make sure they don't collect it."