Rumour and gossip about "bungs" at all levels, even local junior football, has abounded since time immemorial. The sheer volume of that gossip and rumour and 'confessions' indicates that it is an ever present element in the game. As with any other illegal financial dealings they are shrouded in 'smoke and mirrors' and loopholes and trying to deal with them is like trying to grasp jelly - you get some but the majority squeezes through your fingers.

As far as Craig Allardyce goes the loophole in the regulations appears to be that managers are forbidden from having deallings with agencies in which they personally hold a financial interest but this does not extend to association with relatives. The problem for the FA is Sam will continue to say he has no knowledge of the Craig's financial dealings and since payments to Craig for work involving Bolton do not of themselves breach the FA rules Craig has no need to say other than that he has hidden nothing from him. It could be a smear campaign but I believe that is unlikely but where do you get the proof that Sam was aware and condoned the payment from which he probably took his cut. If it was established that Craig gave his Dad £50,000 how can you directly link that to a payment he received in respect of work involving Bolton, just one of the Clubs he deals with as an agent?

The programme itself was full of innuendo and offered very little in the way of hard evidence but the FA will have to investigate the allegations however I suspect that at the end of the day the Allardyces have little to worry about beyond the mud which sticks after such allegations are made.