CORRUPTION PROBE TO DRAG ON AND ON

Lord Stevens is to ask Premier League chairmen to give his team of investigators from Quest three more months to complete their investigation into irregular payments in transfer deals.

The former Metropolitan Police commissioner will deliver the initial findings from his seven-month inquiry to the clubs at a special meeting on Monday.

In addition to the 20 Premiership clubs, nine from the Football League Championship, who were in the top division during the period under investigation, will also be present.

Wolves, Leeds, Leicester, Birmingham, Southampton, Norwich, West Bromwich Albion, Crystal Palace and Sunderland all played in the Premiership between January 2004 and January 2006.

Of the 362 transfers examined from that period, Stevens is expected to outline around 60 deals that require further examination.

The clubs and deals involved will not be made public at the meeting. Instead, Quest will contact those involved soon to arrange interviews.