Players will nearly always need an agent of some sort to deal with the commercial aspects of their profession, same as bands have managers, companies have salespeople, etc. It's not just about how much a week, there's also relegation/promotion clauses, sponsorship deals, and everything else that puts money into player's pockets. Footballers play football, they're not usually entrepreneurs or business-savvy people, especially the younger ones. Also a lot of people are uncomfortable talking about money full stop, those people will always get shafted unless someone else is looking after their interests. For me the problem is that football is now seen as a gravy train, anybody can become an agent, no qualifications are needed and it's bound to attract a lot of lowlife. On the other hand I'm sure there are some decent ones around, it's a case of spotting them and gettting them on board.
I think the attitude is that once they're got a whopping contract they've arrived at their destination. Then there's no need to try as hard anymore as the money is already in the bank.
A very good mate of mine is a sports agent, not football and predominantly not the U.K. He's also a qualified public accountant and ex professional sportsman. Without his commercial experience and expertise some of his clients simply wouldn't be able to navigate and negotiate the, often, complex contracts they are exposed to. Not only do athletes need and expect it, but commercial organisations do so too. An athlete that genuinely doesn't need professional representation in this day and age is a rare beast. Another example, another mate of mine has a son about to graduate out of the academy ranks of a top division rugby club. My mates a lawyer, and he's still asked me about getting agent advice and representation. The club have recommended he now gets an agent as well. Good or bad they are needed in this day and age.
I don't think anyone disputes that. The problem is the amount of power and influence they have in the game, and the capability to needlessly milk hundreds of millions of pounds. Clubs should not be paying agents. Agents should not have such financial incentives to push and pull things the way they do. They should be looking after the players best interests impartially, they should receive the same level of income regardless of which club their player signs for or when. Agents in their current capacity are a sickness to the sport.
Not going to happen though, players need them. I agree with Bob in post #218, more or less. If a club wants to pay an agent to find them a decent left back fair enough, but if the left back proposed is the same agents client then it's all bollocks. .
It's not a "community asset", it's a business, which the Allams bought. They own the club, we are merely extremely loyal and emotionally tied customers
Vent your fury at the people who choose to employ them. Perhaps a chant at home games? Let's see how much the club paid agents last year - £7m for example - and then on the 7th minute everyone shout "go away agents" and then get back to cheering for the players who employ them? Fool proof.
People should look into what happened at Ruscador with Allam senior. Golden wonderful business genius that he is. The idea that he's just a bit mad and has some funny ideas with City but is otherwise very astute and generous is bollocks. He's a conman and that's how he got his fortune.
Think you may need to wind your neck in a bit there, unless you have the proof. Remember Tenfoot Tiger (RIP)
I know that Ruscador went into administration then disappeared but was there a scandal about it? Early 1990's was recession time, lots of companies went under.
Didn't the whole ship industry in Hull just sort of die around that time? I think the only scandal that took place is the fact Assem was involved which naturally will send our resident crackpot off on one.
There's a tonne of agents that are ex-pros. Agents are an absolute necessity, I never understand why people have an issue with them.
