Sam Allardyce yesterday announced a lifetime boycott of the BBC, following its Panorama documentary about alleged corruption in football. The Bolton Wanderers manager, who has promised legal action over accusations that he took bungs, refused entry to all BBC outlets at his first press conference since a programme that he claims was packed with "outrageous lies".

Allardyce also had a warning for the large number of newspaper journalists at the Reebok Stadium. "I expect you to write about football, otherwise I won't be seeing any of you again either," he said. "Just be careful what you write."

Allardyce said he would not answer questions about the specific allegations made by three agents in the programme. He did, however, make it clear that he would follow the Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp in issuing a writ against the BBC, and claimed he had the support of his club chairman, Phil Gartside.

He also said he did not fear for his job at a time when Gartside was holding an internal inquiry and the Football Association and the Premier League were looking into his transfer dealings. "I've had the backing of the chairman, the club and everyone who works here, so I've no fears on that department at all."

Bolton play Portsmouth at Fratton Park on Monday. Allardyce is aware that he and Redknapp will be under intense scrutiny and he called a meeting of his senior players yesterday to discuss the fall-out from the Panorama programme.

"I've spoken to them about it and we have to move on. I told them: 'It's nothing to concern you lads, so get on with your jobs and do what you're paid to do - win football matches.' It's been difficult, it's not very nice, but you have to be professional. I'm paid by this football club to work for them, so I have to put everything else to one side. After that, I don't want to say too much more. My inner feelings are my inner feelings and they're not for expressing to the public, certainly not at this time."

Asked about his stance against the BBC, Allardyce redirected the question to Bolton's head of media, Danny Reuben, who said: "We've spoken privately to the BBC and they're aware of our thoughts. That's the reason why they're not here."

The BBC is a rights-holder for the Premiership but Allardyce has followed Alex Ferguson in refusing to speak to the corporation. Ferguson's boycott followed a documentary shown in May 2004, also involving Panorama's reporter Alex Millar, which investigated his son Jason's business dealings as a football agent and particularly his links with Manchester United.

Allardyce told his players about the allegations immediately after their League Cup win at Walsall on Tuesday night. The captain, Kevin Nolan, said there had been a meeting at the training ground yesterday.

"I can't say much for legal reasons but the one thing I want to say is that the players are fully behind him," said Nolan. "I watched the programme on Tuesday night, then the next day I gave him a ring to say I was behind him and if he needed anything to get in touch. He received dozens of messages like that because we're all behind him."

Allardyce, who claims the BBC have no hard evidence, also seems to have the backing of the club's followers, judging by the Bolton Evening News' receipt of over 100 supportive letters. Only three demanded that he should leave. "People from every area in football, and beyond, have been in touch. It's been superb, for myself and my family. Professionally, I just have to get on with it and not let it affect me. I have to put it behind me, move on and my legal team will do the rest."

Meanwhile, an unlicensed agent involved in the transfers of Tal Ben Haim and Idan Tal to Bolton is at the centre of an investigation by the Israeli Football Association.

The governing body is warning its clubs not to deal with David Abu, an Israeli who divides his time between his homeland and England.

"We have been after him for a very long time," said Yftach Even Ezra, a lawyer from the Israeli FA. "We have warned teams about dealing with unlicensed agents and him. Once we have enough hard evidence to bring teams to justice for this kind of behaviour we will do that."

Guardian Service