QPR reaffirms support for Hasselbaink after newspaper sting
London - Queens Park Rangers insisted Friday that manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink had the "unanimous support" of the London club's board after he was caught up in the newspaper sting that cost Sam Allardyce his job as England boss.
The Daily Telegraph have been publishing information obtained during a 10-month probe which the newspaper claims lifts the lid on bribery and corruption in British football.
Secretly-filmed footage of Allardyce making a variety of controversial comments cost him the England job last month, while QPR boss Hasselbaink was among other figures to have been filmed by undercover reporters as part of the investigation.
The Telegraph alleges the Dutchman requested a fee of £55,000 ($71,000, 63,000 euros) to work for a fake Far Eastern firm seeking to sell players to the club, with the former striker immediately denying any wrongdoing.
Second-tier QPR, currently 13th in the Championship, announced an internal inquiry of its own and it says that while Hasselbaink may have been "naive", it was happy to accept his explanation after insisting the Telegraph had failed to answer a request for full details of the meeting.
"Throughout the comprehensive investigation, the club contacted and communicated with all the major parties involved, including The Telegraph, who failed to provide the club with the information previously requested," said a QPR statement issued Friday.
"Despite a number of requests from both the club and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's legal team for the information relating to the inferences made on September 28th, including video footage and a full transcript of the discussions that took place, nothing has been forthcoming.
"As a result, and in the absence of any further evidence, the Board fully back QPR manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and his explanations relating to these inferences.
"Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink openly admitted he was naive and, as such, has been reminded of his roles and responsibilities as manager of Queens Park Rangers Football Club.
"He remains fully focused on his job as QPR manager, and he does so with the Board's unanimous support."QPR reaffirms support for Hasselbaink after newspaper sting