Charles Collymore to sue Newell

Newell: Not worried

Collymore was identified in the BBC Panorama investigation into bungs and corruption in football. Collymore was caught on camera saying that there were a lot of football managers that they could get away with offering bungs to (or words to that effect) but has denied ever offering a manager a bung. Newell was also featured in the programme saying that it was Charles Collymore and his assistant Mark Wilson who had offered him a bung to push through the transfer of a player.

Newell told The Mail "I've had a letter from Collymore's solicitors threatening legal action for defamation and saying he wants damages,"

"I've passed it on to my own solicitors and I'm not worried in the slightest." (quoted on Sky Sports).
Newell started off the enquiry into bungs in football in January by saying that he had been offered a bung as a manager to push a transfer through. However, Newell does not have any substantial proof of this, meaning it is difficult to catch an agent such as Collymore who has been accused of offering a bung. The implications on future transfer deals for Luton Town are unclear, but it is very likely that Charles Collymore's contracted players won't be signing for the club.