The Premier League have insisted that the identity of the eight clubs being investigated as part of Lord Stevens' inquiry into illegal payments remain a closely-guarded secret.
Names of eight clubs were published in a newspaper at the weekend but the Premier League and Stevens' security firm Quest are adamant the identities have not been divulged - even to the clubs themselves.
Stevens revealed last week that his inquiry is still looking into 39 of the 362 transfers that took place in the top flight between January 1 2004 and January 31 2006.
A joint statement said: "Some newspapers have published the names of eight clubs alleging that they are the clubs involved in the 39 transfers under further scrutiny by the inquiry."
"The Quest team handling the inquiry have not released or divulged the names of any clubs and the Premier League will be writing on behalf of these eight clubs to the newspapers concerned, putting them on notice that in the event these are not the eight clubs involved in this phase of the inquiry, they reserve their position with regard to taking the appropriate action against them."
One of the clubs named in the reports was Southampton, but they say they have no idea whether they are involved.
Southampton operations director Lee Hoos said: "A total of 25 clubs are still involved in the inquiry and the Premier League have indicated they will be writing to all of them, and therefore it is impossible to know which of them are being investigated."
"None of the other 24 clubs actually knows if they are being investigated either. It is all speculation."
"If we are one of the clubs under investigation then we will give our full co-operation as we welcome this inquiry and would be keen to ensure everything is above board and correct."
Meanwhile, Stevens stressed that suggestions he wanted three more months to finish the inquiry, rather than the two he has been granted, are incorrect.
Stevens said in a statement: "An agreed period of two months was requested at the Premier League meeting last Monday in order for my team and I to complete the next phase of the inquiry. This was approved by the clubs, I understand unanimously."
Last modified: 10 October 2006 07:52:32
Investigated clubs a secret!
Moderators: BillShankly, arxidi, Judge Judy, Forum Admins
that's rich coming from a Greek... the Greek league is clean is it? no corruption... is it corruption when the government and regulatory bodies are the ones corrupt?
