FA calls for evidence of Curbs bung

The Football Association would welcome any evidence from Alan Curbishley to back up his claim that he was once offered a bung.

As yet there are no plans to haul the former Charlton boss in to aid an inquiry into illegal payments prompted by Luton manager Mike Newell's similar allegations last season.

But following Curbishley's revelations from his autobiography, an FA statement read: "If Alan Curbishley wants to provide us with evidence to support this claim we will look into it thoroughly."

Curbishley, who left the Addicks at the end of last season, insisted he was one of the "straightest managers" in football but also revealed one Premiership chief executive was so generous he was known among agents as Father Christmas.

In his soon-to-be-published book 'Valley of Dreams' serialised in the News of The World, Curbishley said: "I think I have the reputation as one of the straightest managers in the game and only once in all the discussions I've ever had with agents have I been asked if I wanted anything out of a deal.

"He basically told me what his fee would be and suggested he could add a bit on top which would be for me.

"It's not something I would ever do or get involved in and I'm happy knowing that no agent can point a finger at me and say they ever gave me anything for a transfer deal.

"Some clubs take the view it is sometimes worth paying over the top just to make sure the deal gets done.

"One chief executive was known as 'Father Christmas' because whenever agents went in to see him to do a deal, they always came out smiling with what they had been offered."