PREMIER LEAGUE bung busters have vowed to raid bank accounts and phone records in an all-powerful probe into corruption.
Football has been rocked by allegations that up to eight top bosses have been caught up in a bung scandal.
Premier League chiefs are threatening to get tough and a spokesman said: “English football takes the governance of the game extremely seriously, with integrity being of paramount importance.
“Any substantive allegations will be investigated with the full force of the rules at our disposal, which are wide-ranging and well- developed.
“In addition, should we find any evidence of criminality we would inform and seek the support of the appropriate statutory authorities.”
Premier League chiefs have the power to demand paperwork from managers, players, refs and club officials.
They uncovered 17 dodgy deals for the Lord Stevens report in 2006, but no further action was taken.
Yet a new investigation is about to open following the Telegraph’s allegations about several high-profile managers.
And bung claims are not confined to the Prem.
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Barnsley No2 Tommy Wright has been suspended after being filmed accepting £5,000 in cash after agreeing to help a fake Far Eastern firm profit from transfers.
QPR chief Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was filmed agreeing to represent the same firm, appearing open to the idea of signing players they owned.
And Leeds owner Massimo Cellino is alleged to have discussed how his club could get around FA rules on third-party ownership of players.
All deny impropriety.
Barnsley and QPR have launched internal investigations, though Rangers said they have “every confidence” in manager Hasselbaink.
And the ex-Chelsea star insisted: “I did not ask QPR to purchase any of the players 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.”
The Premier League acted after shamed England boss Sam Allardyce claimed he could show undercover investigators how to bend third-party rules.
The crackdown comes as FA chairman Greg Clarke said: “We need to consult with the professional game and say, ‘Come on guys. We need to work together on this one, because none of us want bad guys on the take in our game’.
“People who turn up to discuss strange deals, with strange people they have never met, are looking for trouble — and that’s what we’ve got to eliminate.
“Because, if it’s open and upfront, they can come in by the front door.”
With Wembley bigwigs still reeling, the FA’s legal department have been asked to draft a new Code of Conduct which would apply to any incoming England boss.
But Clarke added: “We have to be very careful where we draw the line because previous England managers have had deals to wear suits, watches.
“We need to figure out what we want and then figure out how to specifically exclude areas of conflict in a way that doesn’t oppress the individual.
“If a big sporting organisation wants to pay the England manager five grand to speak and he’s got the evening off, should we stop him?”
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