A former Chelsea player has said he was paid £50,000 by the club not to go public with allegations that he was sexually abused by its former chief scout.

The claim comes as West Midlands Police became the latest force to confirm it is currently “investigating four historical allegations of child sexual abuse in football” as the scandal continues to grow.

Former Chelsea striker Gary Johnson, 57, said the Premier League club asked him to sign a “gagging order” and has called for “total transparency”.

A major police probe into historical child sex abuse in youth football up and down the country continues.

It was reported earlier this week that Chelsea had made a payment to an individual in the last three years following allegations regarding former chief scout Eddie Heath.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror, which reported that Chelsea had now waived the confidentiality clause in Johnson’s settlement, which was made last year, he said: “I think that they were paying me to keep a lid on this. Millions of fans around the world watch Chelsea. They are one of the biggest and richest clubs in the world.

“All their fans deserve to know the truth about what went on. I know they asked me to sign a gagging order and how many others are there out there?

“They may have paid others for their silence. I hope and pray no clubs are allowed to cover this up — no one should escape justice. We need total transparency now for the good of the game.”

Chelsea said on Tuesday they had appointed an external law firm to carry out a formal investigation into a former employee, with the club refusing to comment on any of the details.

A club statement said: “Chelsea Football Club has retained an external law firm to carry out an investigation concerning an individual employed by the club in the 1970s, who is now deceased.

“The club has also contacted the FA to ensure that all possible assistance is provided as part of their wider investigation. This will include providing the FA with any relevant information arising out of the club’s investigation.”

On Thursday, Football Association chief executive Martin Glenn said any club guilty of “hushing up” sexual abuse to protect their image would be punished.

Johnson was a member of Chelsea’s first team from 1978 to 1981, but joined the club as an 11-year-old in 1970 and said he had been groomed from the age of 13 by Heath.

“I felt shame, I felt my childhood had been taken away,” he told the Mirror. “I spent my late teens in turmoil, absolute turmoil.”

Heath, the club’s chief scout from 1968 to 1979, died before the allegations were made.

On Thursday it was revealed that a dedicated NSPCC helpline for football received 860 calls in its first week.

West Midlands Police said in a statement on Friday it was investigating four allegations and was “now in the process of speaking to the complainants”.

Meanwhile, 10 suspects have been identified as the scandal continues to grow, and Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said it was investigating reports from 35 people, with its inquiry growing on a “daily basis”.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council said around 350 people across the country had reported abuse allegations.

Kent Police became the latest force to confirm it has received reports of historical child abuse within the county’s football community.

A spokesman said the force was reviewing the reports. The names of the football clubs linked to the claims and the number of allegations received have not been disclosed.

A Kent Police spokesman said: “Should victims come forward to Kent Police to report incidents that have taken place elsewhere in the country then we will support them appropriately, but the investigation of those offences would be carried out by the police force that covers the area where the abuse is reported to have occurred.”

The spokesman urged victims in Kent who have not yet come forward to call the NSPCC helpline on 0800 023 2642.