David Sullivan reveals agent threatened violence

By MARTYN ZIEGLER
Published on 02/02/2013 01:19

West Ham United co-owner David Sullivan has claimed that an agent threatened him and one of his players with physical violence during the January transfer window.

Just days after QPR manager Harry Redknapp described agents’ behaviour as being “like gang warfare”, Sullivan says behaviour turned even more sinister. Sullivan said: “In this window, I have had an agent threaten me and threaten one of our West Ham players with physical violence, because he thought he was being cut out of a deal.

“I heard of three or four agents trying to jump in on other deals. Some of these people are like scavengers. It was all deeply unpleasant and I’m glad it’s over.

“Harry Redknapp was right. It feels like gang warfare out there and I can see it spilling over into violence in the future, unless there is legislation from the FA to curb the practices.”

QPR were the biggest spenders in the window and Redknapp said: “It’s like gang warfare out there. It is scary. If you’ve got a deal for a player, another agent will try to scupper that deal if he is not involved in it. They’re all fighting for big money, that’s the problem.”

Sullivan said the financial demands by agents had got out of control. He added: “Agents who would once demand £50,000 for their part in a transfer, now want £500,000 to £1 million to either bring a player or keep a player. It is quite outrageous and the FA should cap the amount paid to agents for their work.”