SAINTS chairman Ralph Krueger has distanced the club from any wrong-doing over allegations made by a national newspaper about assistant manager Eric Black.

Krueger states that it is "personal issue" for Black and nothing to do with Saints after Claude Puel's number two was named in an undercover sting by the Daily Telegraph as part of their 'Football For Sale' exposé.

It follows a club statement that said that Saints were fully committed to investigating the issue surrounding the 52-year-old.

"In regards to the situation with Eric, it's a personal issue for him," Krueger said. "It has nothing directly to do with us as a club.

"I don't have enough information to make judgment on it. All I know is that Southampton Football Club is going to do everything possible to participate with The FA in finding ways to improve regulation as a result. "That's all I can tell you."

Black is the latest high profile figure named in the Daily Telegraph's corruption in football exposes.

He joins a list including Sam Allardyce and Tommy Wright - both of whom have lost their jobs as a result - plus Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Leeds owner Massimo Cellino.

The FA is awaiting "full and unfettered disclosure of all available material from the Daily Telegraph" as the corruption allegations engulfing football which has now implicated Saints assistant manager Black.

Wright was yesterday sacked after claims made against him and the newspaper's latest claims surround Black, who allegedly offered advice on how to bribe officials at other clubs.

He was filmed at a New Forest hotel apparently saying staff at other clubs could possibly be persuaded to give information about a player to a management company for money.

He has denied the allegations.