[overkill]

Is Mike Newell about to lift the lid on some dodgy goings on? Will the FA do anything about it? No to both? Sorry to be cynical but we've been here before. The most likely scenario is that Newell will spill his gut's, the agents will threaten the FA that they will get their players to boycott any review, and a few minor 'players' will be exposed and get their wrists slapped.

What should happen is that the FA take on board Newells comments, drop in on players without warning (ie before they check their story with their agents) the big five and others get caught with their pants well and truly down, and in hot water. The aftermath being all of them get publicly shamed, and agents finally get their money grubing activities curtailed and properly monitored. Sadly, I cannot see this, probably game saving event, happening.

Anybody else hold out any hope for real change?

[booyaka]

Tend to agree with you - can not see that much change coming out of any comments that Newell makes etc unless they are bigtime players that he is talking about.

Thinking back to when george graham got a slap on the wrist and a fine (1 year ban also i think), nothing really changed that much did it?

It does seem all a bit shady the dealings etc, percentages that agents take etc.

[Bristol Pete]

I think Mike Newell is a very brave man as he could be annexed by the whole of football.

That said, some bigger names have backed him publicly and hopefully something may be done to rid the game of the leeches that attach themselves to both clubs and players.

I hear through the Bristol grapevine that Steve Lansdowne, chairman of my club Bristol City may be one of the people he has spoken about as City tried to tap up Luton striker Steve Howard, with our chairman offering the Luton chairman something in return - in fact the luton chairman went public on this at the time.

Pete.

[johnscarlet]

I think its probably more to do with Nichols this time . Lots of teams see him as the Guy to take them up/keep them up . Offered him cash , so as not to miss him too much.
Nothing will come of it though . Newell has admitted to having no documentary evidence

John

[overkill]

Originally Posted by johnscarlet

I think its probably more to do with Nichols this time . Lots of teams see him as the Guy to take them up/keep them up . Offered him cash , so as not to miss him too much.
Nothing will come of it though . Newell has admitted to having no documentary evidence

John

Was he ever likely too? Only a fool writes down "here is a bung, please accept it on behalf of _ _ _ _ _ _ _ FC who want to illegally approach/buy your player".

Or the other alternative is, that any evidence he had has mysteriously fallen, quite by accident, into the shredder. Funny how it was sitting in a locked draw several feet away from it at the time...........

These agents are filth, pure and simple. They live in a shady, half gangster World, and somehow, I cannot see them taking someone 'going public' lying down.

[Steven]

Yes agents make a filthy amount of money but

Originally Posted by overkill

They live in a shady, half gangster World, and somehow, I cannot see them taking someone 'going public' lying down

But the Corleone's they ain't

Don't let your imagination run away with you

[overkill]

Originally Posted by LFC_SL

Yes agents make a filthy amount of money but



But the Corleone's they ain't

Don't let your imagination run away with you

No-one said they are. However, one or two have already been linked with criminal activities, and those from Europe, Eastern Europe in particular are not likely to be working outside organised crimes remit. There's too much money involved. Overactive imagination has nothing to do with it. Read the excellent article on "wheres the money coming from" about Eastern European Agents in WSC.

Besides one or two (probably a lot more!) of the English agents have erm', 'less than savoury backgrounds'.

If anything I think you may be underplaying it a tad LFC.