Rooney 'signed first contract without explanation'

Wayne Rooney signed his first professional football contract without having it fully explained to him by his agent, a court heard today.

The football prodigy, having turned 17, went from an £80 (€90.77)-a-week trainee to be able to legally sign his first professional contract with Everton in January 2003.

But his agent Paul Stretford, in an “extraordinary” revelation, did not take the youngster, or the boy’s father, fully through the contract and what it meant, it was alleged.

Mr Stretford brokered contracts with Rooney as he burst on to the football world, for a sports management firm, Proactive, where he was a director and founding partner.

These involved multi-million pound agreements by the player, and his wife, to endorse products and firms, including Coca-Cola, Asda and Nike.

But after Mr Stretford left Proactive in acrimony in October 2008 no further commission payments have been paid.

Proactive claim that under the terms of the contract Mr Stretford signed with the Rooneys while he was director of the firm, they are still due the commission payments – now amounting to a minimum of £4.3m (€4.87m).

Today Mr Stretford was closely questioned by Ian Mill QC, acting for Proactive, about the football contracts, involving transfer payments, earnings from image rights and sponsorships, signed by Rooney with Proactive after he turned 17.

“So how did Mr Rooney senior and junior get assurances in relation to those documents,” Mr Mill asked the witness.

“You accept responsibility for the football documents, but you did not take the opportunity to explain to Mr Rooney or his son, what documents were being signed or what their effects would be?”

“No I did not,” Mr Stretford replied.

“Well that is extraordinary Mr Stretford,” Mr Mill continued. “Absolutely extraordinary, what on earth do you think you were doing?”

Mr Stretford said there were “countless negotiations” and not the time to go through every single clause in every document.

Many football contracts were “standard” and he would simply, “take them on their merit”.

“Not standard to a 17-year-old boy and his father who has had nothing to do with football,” Mr Mill replied.

“Was his father, to your knowledge, someone experienced in football contracts?” Mr Mill asked.

“No,” Mr Stretford replied.

The lawyer continued: “I suggest to you this evidence gives you no credit whatsoever.”

During the case Mr Stretford has been accused of exploiting the Rooneys by Mr Mill.

The witness said the last time he signed a contract to be Rooney’s football agent was a two-year agreement in 2006.

“Do you think Mr Rooney will be surprised to hear you are no longer his agent?” Mr Mill asked.

“He would consider me as his agent, his manager, the fact is he knows he’s not signed a football agency contract since 2006.”

Mr Stretford added: “Our relationship was such there was no need for a contract. I don’t need to have a contract with Mr Rooney.”

The court heard both Wayne Rooney, his mother, father and wife were now scheduled to give evidence at Manchester Mercantile Court on Friday.