A FORMER Hereford United coach has denied that he is involved in a setting up a new football academy in the West Midlands.

The Hereford Times last week reported that Irfan Kawri was set to be Mark Ellis' "second in command" as revealed in a press release from public relations firm ASAP.

The academy is reportedly going to be launched in Wednesbury after Ellis' Crystal Sports Management company struck a deal with property firm Bond Wolfe.

"I've not agreed to be second in command," said Kawri, who was at Edgar Street alongside Ellis during the summer of 2014 and now has a part-time coaching role with the Zambia national team.

"The guy working with Mark Ellis asked if I would be interested and I said it would be something I would look into.

"But the next thing I read is that I'm second in command, which is not true."

Previously, the Hereford Times exclusively revealed that Premier League giants Arsenal were "concerned" Ellis, also a former Hereford United coach, might be misrepresenting his association with them.

According to his own Crystal Sports Management website, Ellis coached the likes of Jack Wilshere, Henri Lansbury, Sanchez Watt and Craig Eastman during his time at Arsenal.

But Arsenal say Ellis, who is from Hornchurch in Essex, has not had any role with them since he was a part-time coach at the academy in 2002.

This year, Ellis has been to Uganda with Jack Pemba of Pemba Sports Africa and also put Zambia Super Division Nakambala Leopards through their paces.

Ellis, who also boasted about working for Real Madrid, Barcelona, Ajax and Juventus, has previously been accompanied on coaching trips to Africa by former Newcastle and England star Rob Lee and ex-Premier League referee Jeff Winter.

Ellis pitched up at debt-ridden Hereford United in the summer of 2014 as a coach and a player recruitment consultant for Essex-based owner Tommy Agombar, who later failed the English FA owners and directors test.

Ellis claimed credit for promotions achieved by AFC Bournemouth, Sheffield Wednesday and QPR.

He added that "he knew all the best players" and was "laying the foundations for success" at the Edgar Street club.

But Sheffield Wednesday and QPR both confirmed he was only a scout, with Wednesday adding that he only had an "expenses only deal" at the club.

Ellis has been issued with a "cease and desist letter" by Arsenal and been informed that the club will take further legal action if his alleged behaviour does not stop.

Ellis, a former West Ham Academy coach, has gained publicity in parts of Africa for his overseas coaching missions in recent years amid widespread reports of his coaching success at Arsenal.

An Arsenal spokesman confirmed Ellis was not an Arsenal scout, an agent for any Arsenal players, involved with Arsenal Soccer Schools in any way or had had a significant role in the development of Arsenal first team players.

“We were concerned with a number of media reports that misrepresent Mark Ellis’ association with the club," reads a club statement.

"We have contacted Mr Ellis in relation to this.”

Mr Ellis has still to respond to the Hereford Times' request for a comment.