LONDON. Oct 9: The English Football League is to look into allegations that they offered Oxford United money to fix the venue of a league cup match in 1983. the Sunday Mirror reported, says AFP

Jim Smith, now coach of Derby County, alleges in a book in be published later this month. that then Uniteri ' hainnan Manin Edwards and former coach Ron Atkinson had approached him and oih^red G.000 pounds (9.000 dollars) if Oxford would play a second replay at Old Trafford.

Under the competition rules a second replay venue had to lie decided on the toss of a coin — unless the two teams made a separate agreement with Football League approval.

“There had been a suggestion that it would be better for us financially if we agreed to play a second replay at Old Trafford." Smith said.

But our chairman. Robert Maxwell, was having none of if.

They begged us to play the third match back al Old Trafford and they' offered lo put 6.000 into our players pool which I’m sure would have delighted one or two of our boys.

"In those- days that was a massive amount of money on offer

I was very surprised by die offer, it was unusual and probably not altogether legal. But I told them my chairman was determined to leave it fo the toss of a coin." Smith said