The Apprentice 2019: Riyonn Farsad says he was a 'scapegoat' in latest firing by Lord Alan Sugar

Apprentice star Riyonn Farsad has said he was “a scapegoat” after being the latest candidate to be fired from the show.

The businessman, 30, was sent packing on the show after being accused of “wasting time” on the latest task.

Tonight saw the contestants practise their bartering and logistical skills by sourcing and purchasing a list of items from Oxford and Cambridge.

Their unusual haul ranged from a bushel of apples, fresh eggs and toad (a type of vodka made from rye) to a snaffle, a mortarboard and a pre Second World War copy of Alice in Wonderland.

But after Farsad, who was made the deputy team leader by Jemelin Artigas, and his teammates failed to secure all of the items on the list, they were penalised by Lord Alan Sugar.

Artigas, who served as project manager for the task, and Ryan-Mark Parsons were also hauled into the boardroom by Lord Sugar, but it was Farsad who was fired this week.

Speaking after the show aired, he told the Standard Online: “I’m gutted, I wanted to stay. I was in it to win it, but I’m completely grateful for the opportunity. Only good vibes here.”

During the firing, Lord Sugar criticised Farsad for being in the losing team for a fifth time, but Farsad maintains it was not his fault.

His fellow team member, Pamela Laird, also said there was "time wasted" by Farsad after he "lost track" of where the team were going.

“I knew full well I had been in the bottom five times, but I wasn’t to blame for being in the bottom,” he said. “Our team just happened to lose because of sales in each task. I knew I was treading on egg shells when I was put in the bottom three and could sense [the firing] was coming.”

He added: “I feel like I was an easy scapegoat because I was sub team leader. Yes I was in charge of the book and, what with the high sale price, we did spend a lot of time [deciding whether to purchase it] on it.

“I also had other teammates that were more than welcome to open their mouths and give an opinion, so I didn’t have to take the whole pressure of the ride for everyone.

“The logistics [for the team] weren’t the best. We didn’t know what the items were, like the toad, we only found out what it was when we got into the boardroom.”

When he was announced as the person leaving the show, Farsad told producers he believes Lord Sugar had “missed and opportunity”

Expanding further, he said: “I feel like out of the candidates I have a very business background and for my products.