Gill: No evidence of corruption

Manchester United chief executive David Gill insists he has never seen any evidence of corruption from agents in his nine years at Old Trafford.

In his widely-reported interview with the ‘fake sheikh’ in Dubai, England manager Sven Goran Eriksson alleged football in this country was corrupt.

The statement has resulted in Eriksson being called to face the FA’s compliance unit today and follows from forceful allegations by Luton boss Mike Newell and QPR counterpart Ian Holloway they were offered illegal ’bungs’ as an inducement to sign players.

But, while he accepts by definition not all agents are ’good’, Gill is adamant he has no evidence of a bung culture many believe to be prevalent in the United Kingdom.

“I have never experienced it,” stated Gill.

“I have heard what people say about it but I have never come across it.

“In nine years at the club I have been increasingly involved in transfer dealings and I can categorically deny anyone has mentioned anything at all like that to me.

“Like most things in life, there are good agents and bad agents. The player is the boss and the agent should be carrying out his wishes but I accept sometimes it works the other way round.

“However, as a club we operate in a very professional manner. We have agreements, everything is registered and all the payments go through the FA.”

United’s dealings with agents are under scrutiny again following their admission they paid out £2.2million to various advisors in the past year for their part in negotiating transfers.

Paul Stretford’s Proactive Group alone pocketed £1.5million following Wayne Rooney’s £27million arrival from Everton in 2004.

Gill accepts the sums involved are mind-boggling to the ordinary fan but claims they are only in line with the investment being made on the individual player.

What irritates him is United’s annual decision to publish fees paid, instigated by former majority shareholders John Magnier and JP McManus, leaves the Old Trafford outfit open to widespread criticism.

Although the Football League current publish similar figures for all their member clubs, United remain the only top flight outfit to do so.

But Gill thinks it is time the Premier League seized the initiative and forced their members to do the same, even though he recognises some of his major rivals may resist.

“I am sure there will be certain clubs who are opposed to the release of these figures and won’t do it,” he said.

“That is why it needs leadership from the Premier League.

“It is not a matter of being forceful. It is a matter of having a dialogue and discussion.

“I do not know whether we pay the same, more or less than other clubs but I do know we have nothing to hide about the sums involved.

“Sometimes though, you have to grab the initiative and publish.

“There is so much talk about agents. A lot of myths and scare stories have grown around them.

“If people showed what they were paid, some of the fears supporters have could be allayed but it is something the Premier League would have to do and introduce into their rules.”

In the official statement released with United’s annual results, Gill described the Red Devils’ present unilateral stance on the issue as ’untenable’ over the long term.

Now they are no longer a Stock Market listed PLC, Gill knows United have no further obligation to publish the figures, so the warning could be seen as a threat to the Premier League this will be the last time the England’s biggest club goes public with such detail unless action is taken to force other clubs to follow suit.

However, it appears the situation is not quite so straightforward and Gill does favour continuing with the process.

“Why should we carry on?” he said.

“It is something we would have to debate as a club but ultimately, if you think something is right you should probably do it and continue to do it.

“I have no embarrassment about the cheques being written.”