Neville backs Fergie comments

United skipper questions players who rely too much on agents

Last updated: 23rd November 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Neville backs Fergie comments

Neville: Critical of some players

Every footballer needs an adviser at some point. But a player doesn't need to pay between five and 15 per cent of his wages to a guy to set up a bank account, buy him a new fridge, or ask his club's chief executive for a pay rise.

Gary Neville
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Gary Neville has backed Sir Alex Ferguson's comments regarding modern-day footballers, admitting it is a 'pet hate' that players are too dependent on agents.

Manchester United boss Ferguson claimed last week that players today are more fragile than 25 years ago and rely far too heavily on their representatives.

Red Devils skipper Neville shares his manager's point of view and questions why a player would let his agent seemingly control most aspects of his life.

"I completely agree with his sentiments," Neville wrote in his Sunday Times of Malta column regarding Ferguson's comments.

"It is one of my pet hates when I see players who have agents that do everything for them.

"They don't know how to set up their own bank account, they don't know what they're spending their money on and they can't make their own decisions.

"Not every player is like that, but some are totally dependent on agents and advisers. A footballer should sit down and negotiate with a club, even if his agent is sitting with him.

"It is in a player's best interests to be there and see what is going on."

Mollycoddle

He added: "The idea of allowing someone to look after your financial and professional existence is something I cannot agree with.

"Some agents do a good job, but there are others who stifle and mollycoddle players.

"Some agents will come into a player's life when he is 20, leave his life at 34 and never want to know him again.

"Every footballer needs an adviser at some point. But a player doesn't need to pay between five and 15 per cent of his wages to a guy to set up a bank account, buy him a new fridge, or ask his club's chief executive for a pay rise."

Comments (1)

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Roy Webb (Manchester United fan) says...

I totally agree with Gary, Agents should only get a percentage of what they negotiate, so if a player gets ¿10,000 a week and the agent negotiates ¿20,000, he gets a percentage of the extra ¿10,000. A good agent will bring in sponsors and advertising revenue and can help with investments for when the football days are over, but always have an agent that works on a commission based on what he earns for you, that way it is in his interest to make you money

Posted 09:01 23rd November 2009
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