"I regret what I said to a degree but I absolutely believe we've got a problem and I want to do my bit to solve it," he told the Sun newspaper."

"A lot of my colleagues conduct themselves honourably but we're looking at the small minority.

"We're talking about a lot of money going missing. Millions. I don't have any evidence but I have a lot of experience and people know what's going on."

The BBC television programme Panorama made accusations last week of corruption and rule-breaking by managers and agents. All the accused have denied any wrongdoing, with several raising the prospect of legal action against the BBC.

However, the programme has prompted the FA to launch a series of inquiries.

Both The Sun and The Times reported on Friday that Gordon had been banned for the last four or five years by Middlesbrough, McClaren's club before he landed the England job.

The Times quoted Gordon as saying: "I was never told by Middlesbrough I was banned but the relationship between myself and (chairman) Steve Gibson broke down."