Tomlins blames Newell

Ex Luton Chairman Bill Tomlins, who resigned last month, is reported as admitting the illegal payments under investigation by The FA when he was interviewed by FA lawyers.

The legal team are investigating 13 separate illegal payments totalling £150,000 to seven agents.

Tomlin's was quoted as saying:

'Yes, I broke the rules, there's no doubt about it, but I didn't murder anyone or do anything illegal.

'I did wrong and it's now up to The FA to decide what will happen. But you're right - I fall on my sword.'

The Daily Mail stated that the payments came to light when Luton club secretary Cherry Newbery presented The FA with documentary evidence of the payments five months after Newell had spoken out, and suggested that the club's finances be investigated.

Tomlins allegedly told FA investigators that Newell's attitude towards agents made brining in players almost impossible.

The Daily Mail quoted Tomlins:

'Michael became a nightmare with agents. I had to speak to agents directly - if I hadn't, we wouldn't get the player.

Tomlins claimed that Newell was a 'bloody maniac' and that agents feared him.

omlins continued:

'He said to one agent, when I was in the room, 'You're a ******* parasite. I'm coming round your house, finding out where you live and I'm gonna rip your ******* head off'.

'You know, that man is evil. He was a nasty boy around the club - a bully.

'The rules for dealing with payments to agents were poorly policed so, when it came to it, I telephoned The FA to tell them I had been making irregular payments.

'I know it was a breach of the rules, but I thought I had reasonable grounds.

'I broke the rules, no question, from the time we went into the Championship, but I'll tell you it was to avoid the rantings, the ragings and the bullying of the manager.'

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.