By support

2nd Oct, 2016 | 9:30am

Ravel Morrison secretly taped Sam Allardyce after West Ham agent row - Pennant

By Will Butcher

Jermaine Pennant has claimed that Ravel Morrison recorded former boss Sam Allardyce, after the disgraced manager attempted to get him to sign with his agent.

During their time together at West Ham, Allardyce allegedly attempted to force Morrison into signing a contract with his agent Mark Curtis.

Former Premier League star Pennant told The Sun that his friend Morrison was unhappy with his treatment and decided to tape things to prove what was happening.

“I heard Ravel went into Sam’s office and recorded Sam without him knowing so he could prove what was happening,” Pennant revealed to The Sun.

“Sam told him if he would sign with Mark Curtis then he would get him a good deal. Ravel was really unhappy at how he was treated.”

Morrison was allegedly forced to play with the Hammers’ second-string side after refusing to sign a deal and it looks to have effected the playmaker’s career.

Allardyce, who has also been in charge of Newcastle and Sunderland during his 25-year career as a manager, was axed as England boss earlier this week after the Telegraph conducted an undercover investigation into corruption in football.

Morrison, now at Lazio, posted an intriguing message on his personal Twitter account earlier this week following Allardyce’s sacking by the FA.

Former Leeds and Arsenal midfielder Pennant also revealed that he was the subject of a potential dodgy transfer deal.

At the time Pennant was a 15-year-old schoolboy sensation with Notts County, then managed by Allardyce. He revealed that Curtis had approached him and offered cash if he signed for Arsenal, where he went for £2million, then a record for a trainee.

“I didn’t want to go. I wanted to stay in Nottingham where my friends were,” said Pennant.

“But Sam is a powerful, scary man. He’s very vocal and even back then as a teenager I do remember thinking I don’t want to p*** him off.

“My dad was told that a big club were interested in me. He said he would get a house and a job if I went. But my dad didn’t like them and didn’t want me to go.

“Then a few days later the Arsenal offer came through. Mark came on the scene and he brokered a deal for me to go. He offered my dad £10,000 cash up front and another £10,000 later.”

It is alleged that Pennant, now 33, fears Allardyce also played a part in the deal.

In other West Ham news, Slaven Bilic has made this defender request to the board.