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Southampton assistant Eric Black accused in Daily Telegraph sting

Eric Black
Image: Eric Black has denied allegations he discussed how to bribe coaches

Southampton assistant manager Eric Black is the latest person to feature in the Daily Telegraph's ongoing football investigations, after being accused of offering advice on bribing club officials.

The club revealed on Thursday evening that Claude Puel's number two will feature in Friday's article in the sting which has rocked English football.

In the video, Black is seen speaking with undercover reporters posing as representatives of a Far East firm and the Telegraph allege he advises the 'businessmen' how to bribe lower league staff to identify players for their fictitious agency.

Black attended the meeting at the Lime Wood Hotel in Hampshire on September 2 along with football agent Scott McGarvey, who thought he would be working to identify promising young players for the Far East firm to sign.

Earlier this week, Sam Allardyce lost his job as England boss after being filmed advising people purporting to be businessmen how to circumvent the FA's rules on third-party ownership.

The Saints say they have contacted the Football Association and the Premier League and "intend to work closely with both bodies on this matter when the facts become clear".

The statement said: "Southampton Football Club has today been made aware by The Daily Telegraph that, as part of their on-going investigation, the club's Assistant First Team Manager Eric Black will feature as part of an article in tomorrow's paper.

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"The club immediately requested to be sent, by The Daily Telegraph, the details of this article, but the newspaper declined to share any further information.

"We have today contacted The FA and The Premier League, and intend to work closely with both bodies on this matter when the facts become clear.

Claude Puel, manager of Southampton and Southampton coach Eric Black (R)
Image: Eric Black (right) is currently assistant manager to Saints boss Claude Puel

"Southampton Football Club is fully committed to investigating any situation that directly or indirectly relates to our club, employees or the wider community."

A spokesman for Mr Black told the Telegraph: "[Mr Black] does not recall Mr McGarvey making suggestions that football officials should be paid during transfer negotiations - this was not the purpose of the meeting so far as our client understood it.

"Any suggestion that he was complicit in such discussions is false."

The reference to paying "a couple of grand" related to a freelance scout he suggested the Far East company should approach, the spokesman said.

Black, who served as Aston Villa caretaker manager after the departure of Remi Garde, was appointed to Southampton's coaching staff during the summer as assistant to Puel.

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