Agents criticise Newell over bung culture comments

LEADING football agents were last night unanimous in their criticism of Luton manager Mike Newell following his claims a bung culture remained rife in the game - which they described as a "disgraceful practice."

Under their own initiative, the likes of Stella Group's Jonathan Barnett, Jerome Anderson of the SEM Group, First Artists' John Smith and the Formation Group, as well as prominent lawyer Graham Shear, have come together to form the Football Agents Association, which aims to act as a self-regulatory organisation and in full co-operation with the game's governing bodies.

And following their meeting in central London yesterday, which had been initiated to discuss the new regulations brought in at the turn of the year, they issued a joint statement in which they set out some of their plans for the future as well defending their profession against the claims of the Luton manager.