More on the so-called 'investigation', I think the newshounds are more interested in this than the FA... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/ar...-thwarts-FA-McKay-probe-Bartons-QPR-move.html
Daily Mail/Charles Sale Red tape thwarts FA McKay probe into Barton's QPR move Attempts by the FA to investigate agent Willie McKay's role in Joey Barton's free transfer from Newcastle to QPR will be restricted by the middle-man's registration details. McKay, who has been brought to the FA's attention after acting for Rangers rather than his client Barton, is licensed by the Scottish FA, so he only comes under the jurisdiction of Wembley as a registered overseas agent based in Monaco. Probe: FA want to investigate the transfer of Barton (centre) Probe: FA want to investigate the transfer of Barton (centre) The SFA are contacting the FA to 'seek information' about the Barton transfer and the part played by McKay, whose role with QPR was detailed in the official transfer documentation lodged with the English governing body. They want to see the paper trail before deciding whether to launch their own investigation. McKay said yesterday the size of his near seven-figure earnings from the deal was 'fair'. The FA said there is no limit on the percentage a club can pay an agent, while five per cent is the norm for an agent acting for a player. McKay was on Richard Keys and Andy Gray's talkSPORT show on Wednesday. And while the duo have considerably raised the station's profile and attracted big-name guests since moving there following the sexist outbursts that saw their demise at Sky, Wednesday's programme sunk to a new low. They were utterly fawning in their interview with McKay, who was shamelessly given the platform to have his say over the Barton transfer without being asked why he acted for QPR rather than the player. MAIL TELEGRAPH/Luke Edwards - Joey Barton fee was fair claims leading agent Willie McKay Leading agent Willie McKay has defended his role in securing Joey Bartonâs free transfer move from Newcastle United to Queens Park Rangers, claiming he was entitled to make even more money out of the deal. McKay, who acts for Barton, is believed to have received a seven figure sum for brokering the move, working on behalf of QPR to ensure the midfielder signed for the west London club last month. It was reported on Wednesday that the agent received £2.5 million, but McKay denied this. Barton had repeatedly said over the summer he wanted to stay at Newcastle for at least another season, even though the club withdraw a new contract offer back in May after months of fractious negotiations between the clubâs managing director Derek Llambias and McKay. That changed in the final weeks of the transfer window when QPR became the first and only club to offer him a way out of St Jamesâ Park. McKay was at the centre of the negotiations and is adamant he has done nothing wrong, despite the fact he had a vested interest in making sure the move happened. Barton is understood to have signed a four-year contract at Loftus Road worth as much as £80,000-a-week and McKay is allowed to take a percentage of the total value of that contract as his fee for arranging the transfer. âWithout going into any details I acted within Fifa and FA regulations and so did QPR,â said McKay. âThatâs all Iâve got to say. The figures [reported in the media] have been blown out of all proportion. âI regard Barton as a £10 million player, so whatever fee I got, working on behalf of Queens Park Rangers, was fair to say the least. âI think Queens Park Rangers are very happy. Joey is a very committed guy and he will be a fantastic signing.â In an interview with Richard Keys and Andy Gray on Talksport McKay, who accidentally referred to QPR as Fulham during the interview, added: âThereâs a lot of jealousy in this game, thatâs why you two are working for Talksport and not Sky Sports any more. Talksport have done fantastically and so have QPR. âThe figure Iâve received is less than 10 per cent [of the total value of the deal] which is the Fifa and FA regulation. Nothing has been broken by anybody. âIf you went into a shop and bought a packet of cigarettes, the guy could be charging an extra 10-15 per cent as profit and itâs the same if you buy a house or a car. People who are working charge a percentage as a profit and we [agents] do the same.â Barton has since been made captain of QPR by manager Neil Warnock and believes he can get back into the England squad by playing in London rather than the North East. He made his debut against Newcastle in a 0-0 draw on Monday night. Telegraph INDEPENDENT Agent McKay denies making £1.3m out of Barton 'free' transfer By Glenn Moore, Football Editor Thursday, 15 September 2011 The Queen's Park Rangers manager Neil Warnock said yesterday he had no idea what fees were paid to Willie McKay to arrange the free transfer of Joey Barton, but pointed out that the deal would not have happened without the agent's help. It was claimed yesterday that McKay was paid £1.3m, out of total agents' fees of £2.5m, to facilitate the move to London from Newcastle United. "I don't know what the figures are because I don't get involved in the financial side," said Warnock. "That saves me the hassle. Willie was working for us, Joey had a solicitor or someone working for him to sort out the things like image rights and so on. "I know we are very careful after the problems last year [when QPR's promotion was in doubt while the FA investigated the transfer of Alejandro Faurlin] to do everything by the book. Whatever we paid was worth it, as we would not have got Joey without Willie." McKay, speaking to Talksport, said the figures were not as high as quoted, and added: "I regard Joey Barton as a £10m player. So whatever fee I got, working on behalf of Queen's Park Rangers, was fair to say the least." One key aspect is that if McKay was working for the club, Barton is not liable for any benefit-in-kind tax payment for his services. McKay, who said all payments were within Fifa regulations, had certainly given the impression he was acting as Barton's agent when the player's relationship with Newcastle broke down and had previously represented him at least as far back as 2007. The Football Association was very reluctant to comment on whether it is investigating the deal. It was prepared to state, on the general principle of transfers: "We review all transactions and investigate where we deem to be appropriate." Whether the figure is £1.3m or substantially less, it is still likely to be an eye-opening amount to most hard-pressed football fans. Were Premier League clubs to divulge the sums they pay agents, even on an annual basis as Football League clubs do, payments would most likely be driven down by supporter opprobrium. Agents reply that they are involved in trading valuable assets and charging fees in the same way City professionals do when arranging takeovers and the like. "People out there charge a percentage of profit, and we do the same," said McKay. Some players, such as Gary Neville and Roy Keane, realised long ago that using an agent was likely to reduce their own earnings. Neville did without; Keane used a solicitor. But many players lack the status, or education, to negotiate for themselves, and the key then is choosing the right agent Independent TALKSPORT Talksport * Exclusive - McKay: 'My fee for Barton deal was fair' Willie McKay has defended his part in Joey Bartonâs transfer, claiming the fee he received from Queens Park Rangers was fair. There have been reports that the FA would investigate McKay for his part in the former Newcastle midfielderâs move to Loftus Road on a free transfer after £2.5m was allegedly paid out to agents for their part in the deal. But McKay has told talkSPORT that QPR got a bargain when they signed Barton and they had no qualms about the fees involved. âI regard Joey Barton as a £10m player,â he told Keys and Gray. âSo whatever fee I got, working on behalf of Queens Park Rangers, was fair to say the least. âI think Queens Park Rangers are very, very happy with Joey Barton. Joey is a very committed guy and he will be a fantastic signing for them.â Talksport: Click to Listen
I think by the tone and wording of these articles it's clear that this should die away after today. All the articles are just reporting this after the Sun printed that tosh yesterday, but it's clear that nothing illegal has happened. I'm sure if you looked at other agents fees for some of the big name players would make this amount look small in comparison, but the Sun is after it's pound of flesh from us after they were made to look stupid when they reported that we were going to be deducted 12 points for Faurlins transfer. I think in time we'll all feel that this figure is peanuts for signing Barton and I think he's going to be a firm favorite at Rangers and become a legend. Good business in my opinion.
Chip paper? I wouldn't wipe my a*se with the Sun. Hard to believe any football supporter still reads it - have we forgotten about their disgraceful Hillsborough reporting?
They don't even say what should be investigated - they even admit al the details are in the paperwork. An agent manipulating situations to get rich? If that was a crime then Anelka's brothers would be first in the queue. Too much money. Erm... we are talking about football. Mystic Meg would make a more credible sports writer for the Sun.
