Newcastle United last night insisted that they had been the victims, rather than the perpetrators, of any alleged wrongdoing after yesterday’s early-morning raid by the City of London Police. The club were one of three targeted in police raids, in which computers and paperwork were removed also from the offices of Portsmouth and Rangers.

A team of officers from the Economic Crime Department executed search warrants at Newcastle’s St James’ Park home shortly after 7.30am, as bemused staff arrived at work to discover items being taken away for examination during the hour-long visit.

The morning’s events overshadowed a press conference attended by Sam Allardyce, the manager, and Joey Barton, the midfield player, which had been called shortly before news broke of events at the stadium. Similar raids took place at the same time at Fratton Park and Ibrox, and at the homes of two individuals, in connection with the investigation into alleged corruption in the game. Portsmouth and Rangers confirmed that they had been “asked to cooperate” with police.

Allardyce and Barton spoke at the club’s training headquarters to discuss Newcastle’s first preseason game under the new manager, tonight’s trip to Hartlepool United. Before a statement was released, reporters were warned that questions on non-footballing matters were off-limits.

A spokesman said: “The club was visited this morning by the City of London Police. The club itself is not the subject of the investigation. If the investigation or the ongoing internal review of operations by the club’s new owners show that the club has been the victim of any criminal activity, the club will take appropriate action.”

Police emphasised that this investigation, which began in November and led to an arrest of a 61-year-old man in Manchester in May, is independent of that being carried out on behalf of the Premier League by Quest and headed by Lord Stevens of Kirkwhelpington. Lord Stevens’s inquiry named 17 transfers as suspicious after a 17-month, £1.3 million investigation. All three clubs raided yesterday had transfer deals on the Stevens list.

Quest highlighted four Newcastle deals, claiming that there were inconsistencies in evidence provided by Graeme Souness, the former manager, and Kenny Shepherd, the son of Freddy Shepherd, the chairman, who severed his ties with the club this year after the arrival of Mike Ashley, the new owner. Two of the four transfers took place in January 2005 and involved the other two clubs raided – Jean Alain Boumsong moved from Rangers to St James’ Park for £8 million and Amdy Faye left Portsmouth for Newcastle for £2 million.

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