FA To Investigate Neil Warnock Over Claims Players Paid To Play

The FA are reportedly set to investigate Neil Warnock, following claims from a former player that the retired manager demanded a part of the player's wages in order to be selected.

Vine took to social media to claim that his former boss had asked the striker to pay him a percentage of his wages to get into the starting XI.

"He was giving me the chance to play, but he was taking away some of my money," the 39-year-old said on TikTok.

"He wanted six grand cash a month or something like that. Then he started talking numbers.

"I said, 'Why are you talking numbers? It's not happening.' Then he said, 'What do you mean?'

"He was shocked as he couldn't see the bad side of the deal. But it wasn't a deal I could take as a man. I've got principles.

"So I said, 'If you want me to play for your team just ask me.'"

It is not the first time that a player has made a similar accusation about the former Crystal Palace manager, with Jason Puncheon making the original claim back in 2014.

Puncheon also made his accusation on social media, tweeting about it before deleting it, and ending up being fined £15,000 by the FA.

A statement by Warnock eight years ago said, "These allegations are completely and utterly false.

"The FA Commission considered all of the evidence in detail in 2014 and it found that the allegations which were published about me were unfounded."

Warnock retired last month, after his spell with Middlesbrough came to an end last November, ending a 42 year spell in the management game.

During his long career, the 73-year-old was in charge of 16 different clubs, and managed over 1500 games for football league clubs.

We have approached Neil Warnock for comment.