It was revealed this week that healthy wads of tightly bound cash wrapped in brown paper envelopes are changing hands as part of football transfer deals.

Shock! Horror! What a surprise!

On Tuesday night the BBC’s Panorama programme aired its long-awaited investigation into corruption in football transfers with allegations about a variety of clubs, managers and agents.

Among those to come under the spotlight in the ‘sting’ investigation were Harry Redknapp, Sam Allardyce, Allardyce’s son, Frank Arnsesen, Chelsea Liverpool and a whole bunch of agents.

Some of the scenes were apparently quite damning about some of those involved with claims of players being ‘tapped up’ and managers receiving ‘bungs’ as part of transfer deals.

But, let’s be honest here, did anyone really think this wasn’t going on? Of course not.

In any business in any sector where multi-million pound deals are taking place, someone, somewhere is getting a brown paper envelope full of cash for their efforts.

Could we really expect the same not to be true of football?

As much as we all like to believe the beautiful game is squeaky clean, we all know it isn’t. Managers have been given ‘sweeteners’ for many years as agents persuade them to sign their clients. They may collectively deny it, but it is still collectively true.

Personally I don’t particularly care. As I said, it happens in every business around the world and I wouldn’t expect football to be any different.

Provided the corruption, if you can call it that, doesn’t spread to match-fixing or anything really dodgy, who cares if the managers make a couple of grand for signing a player?

It’s the way the world goes round. And, the beauty of it is, if that player turns out to be a trollop, its’ still the manager who will get the blame anyway.

The system works. No need to fiddle with it.

Xabi Alonso’s goal

It was a moment of sheer magic in an otherwise ordinary game. A flash of genius from a player that will surely go down as a contender for goal of the season.

I am, of course, referring to Xabi Alonso’s goal in the match between Liverpool and Newcastle on Wednesday. Up until that point it had been quite an ordinary encounter with the home side just about edging it.

But when Alonso picked up the ball a few yards inside his own half and belted it towards the Newcastle goal, you knew from the moment it left his foot that something special was happening.

Fair enough, there was an element of fortune in it when goalkeeper Steve Harper lost his footing. But that is not to take away anything from Alonso’s vision and precision in scoring a goal from nearly 50 yards.

Personally I think more players should try it. It might only go in once out of 100 attempts but when it does it is a joy to watch.

Quote of the week

Quote of the week has to get to Formula One world champion Fernando Alonso who, apparently, is not Michael Schumacher’s biggest fan.

The Renault driver excelled himself for sheer bitchiness when he gave his opinion of Michael’s decision to retire at the end of the season after an amazing, if occasionally controversial, career.

“Zinedine Zidane retired with more glory than Schumacher,” the Spaniard said.

Put those claws away, Mr Alonso, you’re going to have someone’s eye out.

Harry Redknapp

Just a few short months ago he was the laughing stock of top-flight football. Harry Redknapp walked out on Portsmouth to join Southampton before walking out on Southampton to re-join Portsmouth.

Few could take him seriously after that. But they are now.

I always believed Harry was one of those managers who could have been the best in the business if he had the right resources. He has worked wonders at all his clubs and built almost an entire future England team while at West Ham.

But, in truth, he was never given the resources to really make the big time at any of his clubs. Until now. And boy, is he taking advantage of the fact.

Pompey sit proudly atop the Premiership after five games out of which they have won four and drawn one without conceding a goal. It might not last, but then again it might.

The only difference this season is that Harry has been given a bit of cash to spend by the club’s new millionaire owner – cash that has allowed him to bring in the likes of Sol Campbell, David James and Kanu.

In typical Redknapp fashion he has still gone out and fetched bargains and cast-offs. The only difference this time is that the bargains and cast-offs are experienced internationals not lower league wannabes.

By the end of the season Portsmouth will probably have found a more realistic upper mid-table position. But you never know.

As managers go, he is one of the most shrewd and innovative on the scene whose teams always play attractive flowing football.

And if he can achieve what he has with just a bit of extra cash, imagine what he is capable of if he really starts to spend…

Contact James on: [email protected]