Barwick wants people to come forward with evidence

"There have been a number of people making allegations about corruption in football," said FA boss Brian Barwick.

"We want to reiterate that any participants in the game have a duty to bring any evidence to our attention."

Barwick said the FA's Compliance Department would be strengthened to "tackle corruption head on".

There are currently 13 members employed within the Compliance Department, but the FA has yet to make a decision on how many new members of staff will be brought in.

He added: "We are now in the process of contacting all of those who have made claims in recent days including former players and managers.

"It is important that we sift innuendo and rumour from the facts.

"Any evidence provided to us will be thoroughly investigated and, whenever appropriate, charges will be brought."

Claims of corruption in football followed an undercover investigation by BBC Panorama into illegal payments.

Several leading Premiership clubs and managers as well as agents were implicated in the documentary.

Blackpool chairman Karl Oyston and England manager Steve McClaren's agent Colin Gordon have since made damning allegations about the state of the game.

Barwick continued: "The FA has already contacted a substantial number of people and media organisations in the last year to ask them to provide evidence following media reports.

"A number have provided evidence which is the subject of ongoing inquiries or has resulted in action being taken.

"The majority have provided cooperation but were often unable to provide any firm evidence of wrongdoing.

"Regrettably a number have chosen not to cooperate."

Former Metropolitan Police commissioner Lord Stevens is preparing to deliver the interim report on his investigation into 362 transfers that took place between January 2004 and January 2006.

He is expected to make a number of recommendations to Premiership chairmen about how to tighten up the regulations to ensure that irregular transfer payments do not happen.

He is also set to reveal that more than 10% of the 362 transfers need further investigation, most because they involved foreign clubs and often intricate payments, and will ask the chairmen if they want more detailed information on those.

He is expected to tell chairmen that he will need several more months to complete his investigations.