Southgate bans charity donation

Gareth Southgate is angry over the "naming and shaming" of players

A Premier League boss has blocked his club's donation to a nursing charity, claiming it "bordered on blackmail".

The Mayday to Nurses' Hardship Fund urged players to hand over a day's pay.

But it then published which footballers had given money and who still owed on its website, angering Middlesbrough FC manager Gareth Southgate.

He accused the charity of "shaming" players and has pulled the plug on his club's donation, saying it did a lot for charity without publicity.

He hit out at organiser Dr Noreena Hertz for publicising benefactors who contributed to the fund.

Dr Hertz launched the fund at the end of last season with the aim of raising £1m by asking all Premiership players to donate a day's wages.

Southgate said players did a lot for charity all year round, and did not deserve criticism.

Instead of any Middlesbrough players giving up their wages, the club was due to give a donation to the fund.

Shame you

He said: "I am disgusted with the manner in which this campaign has gone about its fundraising. "

"It is a worthy cause, but there are many others.

"The players at this club support any number of local and national charities and good causes, either via financial support, giving up their own time or both.

"I think it's outrageous that the campaign's fundraising style has bordered on blackmail, with the message being basically 'give us your money or we'll publicly shame you'."

Financial hardship

Trouble flared after organisers said only £200,000 had been collected from the £1m pledged since the campaign was launched at the end of last season.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Union, which is administering the fund, said it could not comment on the row.

But a spokesman said: "Although the actual level of donations received has yet to meet expectations based on initial pledges, the Mayday campaign has successfully raised a substantial sum of money, which will allow the RCN to help hundreds of nurses in financial hardship."

Dr Hertz, a political economist and campaigner, was not available for comment.