Former England manager Graham Taylor has insisted that he would never have blocked the path of black footballers into the national team during his time in charge of the Three Lions.
Extracts from Pitch Black: The Story of Black British Footballers contains quotes from ex-Birmingham City striker Richie Moran, who suggests that he was told by Taylor that two unnamed Football Association members had spoken to him with the request to limit the number of black players in the national squad.
However, Taylor, who took charge of England between 1990 and 1993, has doubts that any such conversation took place.
"It has taken me by complete surprise because I cannot remember anything about it at all," the 70-year-old told BBC Sport. "Certainly never during my time at the Football Association I had no FA people coming up to me and telling me which team to pick and to pick less black players.
"I would have remembered that. I have no memory of that conversation [with Moran]. There certainly was an event at Watford. I can remember that, but I certainly have no memory of a conversation about black players."
Taylor resigned as manager of England in November 1993, having failed to qualify for the 1994 World Cup.
Daniel Lewis
