Tuesday 27 September 2016 20:00, UK
The agent at the centre of the Sam Allardyce sting is "shocked" by the Daily Telegraph report and denies wrongdoing, his lawyers say.
Scott McGarvey introduced the England manager to undercover reporters he believed were businessmen representing a firm of investors, the newspaper claims.
The FA is considering sacking Allardyce over comments made to the reporters, according to sources, while Sky Sports News HQ has seen a list of eight managers who claim to have been targeted by the same sting operation.
One video on the Telegraph website allegedly shows Allardyce rebuking McGarvey for suggesting giving players "a few grand" to help recruit fellow players to a management firm, and the England boss is shown saying: "You slipped up tonight. You can't go there anymore. You can't pay a player."
Solicitors acting for McGarvey, a former Manchester United player, say their client denies impropriety and has been "naive".
Graham Small, a partner at JMW Solicitors, said: "Mr McGarvey has admitted being eager to impress what he believed to be prospective employers and, in doing so, had perhaps embellished certain comments made during the meetings in question.
"However, he vehemently denies making remarks which are being attributed to him. Some, including apparently having done business with certain club managers, are simply not borne out by fact.
"Mr McGarvey had merely helped arrange meetings in good faith to further what he believed to be a legitimate business venture.
"He was so convinced by the job offer made to him that, far from profiting from these exchanges, he even incurred debts trying to support the development of the new project.
"As soon as a series of allegations were put to him, he responded immediately and in full and, furthermore, has made clear his willingness to help those leading the investigation announced by the Football Association establish the truth of what happened.
"Given that he is still involved in the football industry, he is rightly concerned about the possibility of his good name being impugned and he intends to vigorously defend his reputation."
