Former top line managers David Pleat and Dave Bassett were among the panel that denied McDonald Mariga a UK work permit on Monday.
The Daily Mail says Kenya PM Minister Raila Odinga tried to secure his country's star Mariga a £7million move to Manchester City by phoning Gordon Brown.
Midfielder Mariga, 20, was refused a work permit by a panel that included former Tottenham manager Pleat and ex-Nottingham Forest boss Bassett and Inter Milan stepped in with a four-year deal.
The £7million move City had been all but agreed, but the Kenya international's difficulty in securing a work permit put pay to the deal.