Norbert - Tuesday, January 10
Well done Mike Newell!

Luton Boss Mike Newell has certainly found a supporter here at Football England. He is obviously passionate about our game, and that makes us proud.

The comments he's made about agents in the game certainly confirm what we all probably knew anyway, that Football agents are an unwelcome and, to some extents unnecessary, & parasitic bunch.

I have certainly felt for many years that the influence asserted by these individuals, in the so-called best interest of their high profile clients has been having a detrimental effect on the game.

Unbelievably, £7 Million was spent on agents fees last year in the Championship alone. God knows how much that figure will be for The Premier League, all so that insipid little creatures can smoke their cigars and drive their Ferrari's.

Sports minister Richard Caborn, who has recently talked of introducing a salary cap should perhaps be taking note as well. Players don't need agents, they need accountants. Maximum wage = no agent required surely.

Even Stevie G. & Wayne Rooney can count can't they?

Let's just have a look at what Newell said.

Speaking to the BBC Newell said "There are clear problems in football but nothing gets done,"

"Why has it taken so long for people to realise what's been going on? And why aren't the Premier League doing anything?

"What it needs is for someone in the Premier League to stand up and shout about it. But what you find is that a lot of people involved with the agents and doing the deals are getting back-handers.

"You're not telling me that the only person guilty of taking a bung in the last decade is George Graham? I don't believe it."

Newell told the Daily Telegraph: "I find it unbelievable that the journalists in this country cannot investigate what is going on - it's not Watergate or the White House they are going into," he said.

"I find it unbelievable that they just skirt round the issue."

Newell is right to be angry. Who actually thinks now that what occurred with George Graham years ago was a serious occurrence? That whole episode was & still is treated as a joke. If Newell has, as he claims got names to back up his claims then let's hope he does bring them to the attention of the FA.

He Told Radio Five Live "They need to come to me - I have absolutely nothing to hide. I have done my duty to football."

"You will get a lot of people denying - but you don't have to be Einstein to understand why they are denying it."

The FA were in press mode, stating through Brian Barwick that: "The FA takes this issue very seriously. If people have evidence we would expect them to come forward and provide it to our Compliance Department, who thoroughly investigate evidence of wrong-doing."

Barwick also stated that the FA would be meeting with Newell in the near future to discuss his allegations further. Let's hope that they take this with the gravity it deserves, and bring about swift and comprehensive changes in the future conduct of agents.

This will run & run - watch this space...