MX23RW : Friday, April 19 05:24:16| >> :120:59037:59037:

Stevenage say there is 'no case to answer' over Sampson allegations

The former England Women's manager was put in caretaker charge of the League Two club on Monday.

Stevenage say an internal inquiry has dismissed allegations that caretaker manager Mark Sampson used racially discriminatory language about a player.

Sampson, the former England Women's coach, was said to have made the remark during a conversation about a potential transfer target.

But Stevenage say an internal investigation showed there was no substance to the claims made against Sampson.

The Sky Bet League Two club reported that the allegations were phoned in to the Football Association by a former coach the day after he was told by Sampson that he no longer required his services at the Lamex Stadium.

"Like every professional club, no matter where the complaint comes from, we follow strict procedures, which were followed to the letter," Stevenage chairman Phil Wallace was quoted as saying on the official club website.

"The claimant was offered the chance to make a formal complaint but declined this opportunity, instead choosing to call the FA.

"Nevertheless, CEO Alex Tunbridge acted immediately to interview and take statements from two individuals the claimant said were witnesses, as well as others that were present in the same meeting, but not mentioned by the claimant.

"In each case the witnesses did not support the allegations. Given that overwhelming outcome and the circumstances of the allegation, the club concluded there was no case to answer.

"Perhaps now that the FA have the evidence, they will make it clear there is no case to answer."

The FA said it was "aware of the allegations and investigating the matter".

Sampson was put in charge of winless Stevenage on Monday after Dino Maamria was sacked with the club one place off the bottom of League Two.

The 36-year-old Welshman was sacked by the FA in September 2017 following allegations of "inappropriate and unacceptable behaviour" in his previous role as manager at Bristol Academy.

He had also been the focus of bullying and racism claims, first made by Eni Aluko and then Drew Spence.

The FA said the allegations were investigated and Sampson was cleared of any wrongdoing.

But Sampson, who reached a financial settlement with the FA over his dismissal in January of this year, conceded he should have handled the claims differently, saying it would always be a "big regret" and apologised unreservedly to the two players.

ID:371169: cacheID:371169:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:3825:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Mark Sampson pictured in April 2017
Read Next:
Mark Sampson takes caretaker charge at Stevenage
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CPortsmouth442713475393694
2Derby CountyDerby442681075373886
3Bolton WanderersBolton442411981483383
4Peterborough UnitedPeterborough432481184562880
5Barnsley4421121179601975
6Oxford UnitedOxford Utd4421101376542273
7Lincoln CityLincoln4419141163372671
8Blackpool4420101460431770
9Stevenage4418131354441067
10Leyton Orient441711165053-362
11Northampton TownNorthampton44178195563-859
12Wycombe WanderersWycombe431513155553258
13Exeter CityExeter441610184358-1558
14Bristol Rovers44169195264-1257
15Wigan AthleticWigan441810165955456
16Charlton AthleticCharlton441119146363052
17Reading441511186365-250
18Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury44138233363-3047
19Cambridge UnitedCambridge431210213859-2146
20Burton Albion441110233662-2643
21Cheltenham TownCheltenham43118243761-2441
22Port Vale441010244172-3140
23Fleetwood TownFleetwood44813234572-2737
RCarlisle UnitedCarlisle4479284076-3630


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!