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Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink denies any wrongdoing after latest corruption claims

The Football League has been rocked this evening with The Daily Telegraph publishing its latest allegations of corruption.

QUEENS PARK RANGERS manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has this evening denied any wrongdoing after becoming implicated in English football’s corruption scandal.

The former Chelsea striker, Leeds owner Massimo Cellino and Barnsley assistant coach Tommy Wright have all been named as part of The Daily Telegraph’s undercover investigation.

Hasselbaink was allegedly filmed negotiating a fee of £55,000 to act as an ambassador for a sports agency that proposed selling players to him at QPR.

The allegations form part of a series of revelations published by the newspaper which yesterday ended Sam Allardyce’s time as England manager after just one game in charge.

“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,” Hasselbaink said in a statement.

“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 them and did not and would not recommend the purchase of a player for my personal gain.

“I deny any accusations of wrongdoing on my part.”

QPR also released a statement: “The club is aware of the allegations made against QPR manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in The Telegraph.

“First and foremost, the club takes very seriously any alleged breach of the rules. With this in mind, the club can confirm that there will be a thorough internal investigation regarding this matter.

“However, we have every confidence in our manager and the robust systems and processes the club has in place.”

Meanwhile, Barnsley have suspended Wright after it was alleged he accepted a £5,000 ‘bung’ during a series of meetings with journalists posing as a fake Far East company in which he agreed to help sign players part-owned by the firm.

The Championship club said in a statement: “Barnsley FC is aware of allegations made by the Telegraph against Tommy Wright.

“The club has today suspended Tommy pending an internal investigation into these allegations.”

Leeds United owner Cellino was filmed allegedly offering to sell 20 per cent of the club to help a fictitious investment company work around third-party transfer rules. The club have refused to comment.

The Daily Telegraph has also alleged that eight current and former Premier League managers took bribes during player transfer deals.

With reporting from AFP

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