YR Ago: Oops transfer irregularities & QPR -Barton

[eusebio13]

Football agent Willie McKay is at the centre of more controversy over his role in QPR captain Joey Barton’s free transfer from Newcastle.
The paperwork for the deal shows that McKay, who has had a turbulent relationship with the football authorities, acted for QPR in the negotiations, while Barton represented himself, with the terms signed off by the Rangers financial director Rebecca Caplehorn.
The arrangement has surprised Newcastle, who are understood to have made their concerns known to the FA.

Uncertain role: McKay
McKay was active on Barton’s behalf during the summer saga that ended with the player leaving Tyneside to take up the £60,000-a-week on offer at Loftus Road.
McKay working on behalf of QPR, rather than Barton, in the final negotiations would mean the midfielder would not be liable for any benefit-in-kind tax payment for his considerable agent’s fee. The Inland Revenue are aware this regulatory loophole surrounding dual representation is being exploited.

McKay was one of five men arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and false accounting in November 2007 as part of the City of London Police football corruption probe.
But 18 months later, he was cleared of any wrongdoing. In December 2008, he was given a suspended ban by the FA for breaching regulations by acting for two different clubs in two consecutive transfers of Portsmouth and Manchester City striker Benjani.
QPR, Newcastle and the FA would not comment. McKay was unavailable


Read more: www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/article-2037073/Charles-Sale-Willie-McKay-spotlight-Joey-Bartons-QPR-deal.html#ixzz1XsQYqbe0

[RoryTheRanger]

OH FFS!!!!!! From one dodgy agent to another. If we get f*cked by the FA for this I will be really pissed off.

[Bushman]

Whoops

[RoryTheRanger]

Does anyone that knows all things legal have any idea whether or not we could get done for this?

[jayh]

www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/3812830/Agents-coin-25m-from-Joey-Bartons-free-transfer.html

[Macmoish copy and paste]

Agents coin £2.5m from Joey Barton’s ‘free’ transfer

By ROB BEASLEY

Published: Today
THE FA have been urged to investigate Joey Barton's 'free' transfer to QPR amid claims up to £2.5million was paid out in fees.

Top agent Willie McKay is alleged to have received more than £1.3m for his role in taking Barton to Loftus Road.

And more mystery surrounds a reported second payment of more than £1.2m which was apparently made to a company brought in to represent Barton.

Although there is nothing wrong with McKay being paid, it is the size of the possible fee that has raised eyebrows.

McKay is Barton's agent and spent the recent transfer window openly trying to find his player a new club after a breakdown in relations with the hierarchy at Newcastle.

But it is believed he was actually paid because he acted for QPR in the deal and NOT Barton — although this is not a breach of the rules.

McKay did not deny our information when we contacted him last night.

However, all he would say was: "There's a lot of people act for Joey, you know. He has a lot of people acting for him."

But only last month McKay appeared to be saying he was the player's agent when he told BBC Radio 5 live: "We've been inundated with interest.

"I've probably got the easiest job of any agent in the transfer window."

Barton, 28, is believed to have negotiated a four-year deal comprising a £1.5m- a-year signing-on fee, £40,000 a week in wages plus a £250,000 end-of-season bonus if QPR stay up.

Rangers boss Neil Warnock was shocked to hear the possible numbers.

He gasped: "No chance, no chance."

But then he admitted he had no idea what had been paid out. He said: "All I know is he (Barton) was on a Bosman and he's a lot cheaper than Scott Parker but I don't know the details. I know nothing about it."

Last night QPR's chief executive Peter Beard vehemently disputed the £2.5m figure, insisting it was way off the mark, but he refused to give any official information.

The club do not believe any rules have been broken.

Beard said: "I am not going to confirm any of the club's private transactions."

Newcastle chairman Derek Llambias was quick to distance his club when we contacted him.

He stressed: "We are more than happy to be audited by the FA."

FA spokesman Scott Field doggedly refused to confirm or deny that the governing body had begun an inquiry into the transfer.

However, our source said: "The FA has been given certain details regarding the deal and on that basis we believe they will have no alternative but to investigate, to ensure all the rules have been fully complied with."

[canadaranger]

So who went to the FA with the "story"?
Brown envelope through the letter box at midnight?
Someone who had a grudge against Barton?
Someone on the outs with QPR?
Journo overhearing things in a pub?

I trust Beard's refutation re amounts.

As per Carver Media in the James Bond film, I would very much like to know the "WHY"...

[Macmoish]

Well Gianni gets a pass on this "Error!"

[auburnqpr]

crapp....o well they probably wont be able to prove much and we broke less rules than last time, i believe its only one charge and certainly not as bad as faurlin stuff

[waterbuffalo]

Sept 14, 2011 0:06:31 GMT canadaranger said:

So who went to the FA with the "story"?
Brown envelope through the letter box at midnight?
Someone who had a grudge against Barton?
Someone on the outs with QPR?
Journo overhearing things in a pub?

I trust Beard's refutation re amounts.

As per Carver Media in the James Bond film, I would very much like to know the "WHY"...

you can take your pick, swansea, norwich, newcastle<----, plus every club not in the top six.

[cpr]

So which of the stories actually has the correct facts in it? They contradict each other.

There is no wrong doing, only shock horror over the amount paid to an agent.

Go and see what agents in Citeh's signings get paid please!

[Bushman]

So nothing wrong in McKay being paid and he acted on behalf of the club and not Barton which is not a breach of the rules. Beard denies the amount paid.
What have the club done wrong then?

[weareqpr12]

This rag is a complete load of bs that looks for trouble.

I say get matty Mills brother on the case Ian and take the sun to court. Lets take them on with some fire because they shouldn't be allowed to keep sh it stirring.

[Markqpr]

Sept 14, 2011 0:06:31 GMT canadaranger said:

So who went to the FA with the "story"?
Brown envelope through the letter box at midnight?
Someone who had a grudge against Barton?
Someone on the outs with QPR?
Journo overhearing things in a pub?

Er, Newcastle did. It says so in the last line of the first paragraph:

The arrangement has surprised Newcastle, who are understood to have made their concerns known to the FA.

Sept 14, 2011 6:28:33 GMT Bushman said:

So nothing wrong in McKay being paid and he acted on behalf of the club and not Barton which is not a breach of the rules. Beard denies the amount paid.
What have the club done wrong then?

Nothing. It seems more like a parting shot at Mckay and an attempt to sully his name further by Newcastle more than anything else.

The amount we're paying and have paid already is irrelevant to any 'investigation' as there is no wage cap, but makes for a more exciting story about nothing.

[Macmoish]

A few weeks ago, there were articles in the paper talking about how his agent would earn a million pounds or whatever. (Somewhere here in the archives...)

Is the whole payment of agents thing slimey? Absolutely

Does this particular agent have a certain record? Of course?

Is that an obscene amount of money? Oh yes

The question, here is did we do anything illegal/illegitimate?

(And can we afford it, was he a good player, as opposed to just someone pushed by an agent, etc....as we've discussed over the years!)

[padstow]

The Sun can't even get the name of our CEO right so how much credence should we give the rest of their claims?

[Macmoish]

As we were discussing in late August
qprreport.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=25651&page=1

And The Telegraph/Jason Burt August 25th had this article (and there may have been others)

Newcastle's Joey Barton bartering over wages makes his agent rich

oey Barton was tweeting on Thursday that he needed “some thinking time and space” and it was obvious he was referring to his move to Queens Park Rangers after being told he can leave Newcastle United.

Newcastle will receive no fee for Barton — after he was informed he could leave for free — but the details of the deal offer an insight of the financial power wielded in such cases.

It’s perhaps not well known that when a player signs for a club, his agent’s fee often equates to a percentage of his salary paid over the course of the contract.

QPR’s initial offer to Barton is understood to have been £40,000-a-week plus a £1.5 million signing on fee — and a payment of £250,000 if the club avoids relegation. It’s thought that offer was then superceded by a significantly improved one — a straight £80,000-a-week to Barton in a three-year deal — which represents a significant increase on the £60,000-a-week he earns at Newcastle.

If correct, it’s a huge financial outlay for QPR — wages of more than £12 million spread over the term of his contract (it may be even more if he is granted a four-year deal). The agent, in this case, Willie McKay would then normally ask for 10 per cent with the club countering by saying they will only pay four per cent. Usually the two parties meet in the middle, five or six per cent.

So McKay, legitimately, could expect to receive more than £600,000 from the three-year deal — although an agent will ask for more if he has worked hard to make the deal happen. And given Barton’s reluctance that may well be the case with QPR.

There have been suggestions that McKay might expect to receive as much as £1 million for Barton to move. There is nothing wrong in this — and maybe McKay is receiving far less — but the figures might surprise supporters and gives weight to the argument put forward last week by former Manchester United defender turned media pundit, Gary Neville that all players wages should be published.

It would also be good to see a return to the practice, pioneered by United but then abandoned as no one else followed suit, of also making agent’s fees available too.

www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/newcastle-united/8723789/Newcastles-Joey-Barton-bartering-over-wages-makes-his-agent-rich.html

[Zamoraaaah]

Bovvvered?

[Lonegunmen]

Again this raises my argument that ALL agent fees should be paid by the players. That barton represented himself, he's get to keep his. The club should not be engaging agents to act on their behalf. Thats what directors are for, they approach a club for permission to speak with a player and or his representative. No agent required. End of story.

[Macmoish]

EVENING STANDARD


Willie McKay insists he's in clear over Joey Barton's move to Queens Park Rangers
Simon Johnson

Willie McKay today insisted he has done nothing wrong amid claims Queens Park Rangers paid £2.5million to representatives who helped negotiate Joey Barton's free transfer from Newcastle.

McKay is Barton's agent but it has been reported that he acted on behalf of QPR in the deal - while the player represented himself - and is believed to have received more than £1.3m for his services following the move last month.

Agents are permitted to be paid for work involving transfers but the amount QPR have allegedly spent has come to the attention of the Football Association following a call from Newcastle.

However, McKay told Standard Sport: "I am not concerned. The figures that have been mentioned are way off the mark and I have done nothing wrong. It is a non‑story as far as I'm concerned."

When asked if he feared he would be investigated by the FA, he added: "Not at all."

Barton made his debut in Monday's goal-less draw with Newcastle at Loftus Road.

QPR chief executive Peter Beard has also disputed the £2.5m figure and told The Sun: "I'm not going to confirm any of the club's private transactions."

McKay has made the headlines before, having been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and false accounting in 2007 but he was cleared a year later.

Then in 2008 he was handed a suspended ban by the FA for breaching regulations by acting for two different clubs in two consecutive transfers of Portsmouth and Manchester City striker Benjani


www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-sport/football/article-23986917-willie-mckay-insists-hes-in-clear-over-joey-bartons-move-to-queens-park-rangers.do

[haqpr1963]

Another paper that can't be bothered to even check the name of our CEO....

A total non story, I blame the transfer window leaving the media with nothing to actually report on.....

Sad really......

[Jon Doeman]

Willie Mackay on Talksport: 12.07
www.talksport.co.uk/radio/listen-again/episode/48748

Thanks

[MACMOISH Copy/Paste]

Talksport * Exclusive - McKay: 'My fee for Barton deal was fair'


Willie McKay has defended his part in Joey Barton’s transfer, claiming the fee he received from Queens Park Rangers was fair.

There have been reports that the FA would investigate McKay for his part in the former Newcastle midfielder’s move to Loftus Road on a free transfer after £2.5m was allegedly paid out to agents for their part in the deal.

But McKay has told talkSPORT that QPR got a bargain when they signed Barton and they had no qualms about the fees involved.

“I regard Joey Barton as a £10m player,” he told Keys and Gray. “So whatever fee I got, working on behalf of Queens Park Rangers, was fair to say the least.

“I think Queens Park Rangers are very, very happy with Joey Barton. Joey is a very committed guy and he will be a fantastic signing for them.”

www.talksport.co.uk/sports-news/football/premier-league/1095/33/exclusive-mckay-my-fee-barton-deal-was-fair

[stylecouncillor]

I heard Willie Mckay talking on talksport saying the figures were well wide of the mark and this was a non story ..... he also tipped a horse in the 2.20 which is about to run Roys legacy so If that wins me some cash I'll take him at his word

[stylecouncillor]

Horse finished stone last tailed off ..........the man is obviously crooked

[Macmoish]

Telegraph

Joey Barton fee was fair claims leading agent Willie McKay

Leading agent Willie McKay has defended his role in securing Joey Barton’s free transfer move from Newcastle United to Queens Park Rangers, claiming he was entitled to make even more money out of the deal.

Luke Edwards

McKay, who acts for Barton, is believed to have received a seven figure sum for brokering the move, working on behalf of QPR to ensure the midfielder signed for the west London club last month. It was reported on Wednesday that the agent received £2.5 million, but McKay denied this.

Barton had repeatedly said over the summer he wanted to stay at Newcastle for at least another season, even though the club withdraw a new contract offer back in May after months of fractious negotiations between the club’s managing director Derek Llambias and McKay.

That changed in the final weeks of the transfer window when QPR became the first and only club to offer him a way out of St James’ Park.

McKay was at the centre of the negotiations and is adamant he has done nothing wrong, despite the fact he had a vested interest in making sure the move happened.

Barton is understood to have signed a four-year contract at Loftus Road worth as much as £80,000-a-week and McKay is allowed to take a percentage of the total value of that contract as his fee for arranging the transfer.

“Without going into any details I acted within Fifa and FA regulations and so did QPR,” said McKay. “That’s all I’ve got to say. The figures [reported in the media] have been blown out of all proportion.

“I regard Barton as a £10 million player, so whatever fee I got, working on behalf of Queens Park Rangers, was fair to say the least. “I think Queens Park Rangers are very happy. Joey is a very committed guy and he will be a fantastic signing.”

In an interview with Richard Keys and Andy Gray on Talksport McKay, who accidentally referred to QPR as Fulham during the interview, added: “There’s a lot of jealousy in this game, that’s why you two are working for Talksport and not Sky Sports any more. Talksport have done fantastically and so have QPR.

“The figure I’ve received is less than 10 per cent [of the total value of the deal] which is the Fifa and FA regulation. Nothing has been broken by anybody.

“If you went into a shop and bought a packet of cigarettes, the guy could be charging an extra 10-15 per cent as profit and it’s the same if you buy a house or a car. People who are working charge a percentage as a profit and we [agents] do the same.”

Barton has since been made captain of QPR by manager Neil Warnock and believes he can get back into the England squad by playing in London rather than the North East. He made his debut against Newcastle in a 0-0 draw on Monday night.

www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/queens-park-rangers/8763607/Joey-Barton-fee-was-fair-claims-leading-agent-Willie-McKay.html

[cowleyhoop]

Fa must be skint again looking at us as some sort of cash cow so now when we use a registered agent they have concerns about how much we pay him sounds like b####cks and what difference does it make as long as all parties are legaly allowed to represent either club or player surely we wouldn't be that stupid as to do something wrong again would we

[Macmoish]

Daily Mail/Charles Sale

Red tape thwarts FA McKay probe into Barton's QPR move

Attempts by the FA to investigate agent Willie McKay's role in Joey Barton's free transfer from Newcastle to QPR will be restricted by the middle-man's registration details.

McKay, who has been brought to the FA's attention after acting for Rangers rather than his client Barton, is licensed by the Scottish FA, so he only comes under the jurisdiction of Wembley as a registered overseas agent based in Monaco.
Probe: FA want to investigate the transfer of Barton (centre)

Probe: FA want to investigate the transfer of Barton (centre)

The SFA are contacting the FA to 'seek information' about the Barton transfer and the part played by McKay, whose role with QPR was detailed in the official transfer documentation lodged with the English governing body.

They want to see the paper trail before deciding whether to launch their own investigation.

McKay said yesterday the size of his near seven-figure earnings from the deal was 'fair'.

The FA said there is no limit on the percentage a club can pay an agent, while five per cent is the norm for an agent acting for a player.

McKay was on Richard Keys and Andy Gray's talkSPORT show on Wednesday.

And while the duo have considerably raised the station's profile and attracted big-name guests since moving there following the sexist outbursts that saw their demise at Sky, Wednesday's programme sunk to a new low.

They were utterly fawning in their interview with McKay, who was shamelessly given the platform to have his say over the Barton transfer without being asked why he acted for QPR rather than the player.\

FIFA plump for Blatter's man

FIFA have selected Zurich-based PR chief Walter De Gregorio, who handled Sepp Blatter's media campaign before his unopposed re-election to the presidency, as their new director of communications.

Swiss-Italian De Gregorio, who conducted the first interview with Blatter after the 2018 World Cup vote, in which he called England 'bad losers', is hardly like to improve rock-bottom relationships between FIFA and the English media.

But it is expected that FIFA will also appoint a communications chief to handle the English market, with former Sun sports editor Brian Alexander, who was also on Blatter's election team, favourite for that role.
Popular PR Tyrrell leaves Liverpool

The glaring dislike Kenny Dalglish has for the media makes it all the more surprising Liverpool are parting company by 'mutual consent' with excellent PR communicator Paul Tyrrell, their head of press, who was conspicuously absent at Stoke last weekend.
No fan of the press: Dalglish

www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/article-2037495/Charles-Sale-Red-tape-thwarts-FA-McKay-probe-Bartons-QPR-move.html#ixzz1XyZ3z3gz

[Macmoish]

INDEPENDENT

Agent McKay denies making £1.3m out of Barton 'free' transfer

By Glenn Moore, Football Editor

Thursday, 15 September 2011

The Queen's Park Rangers manager Neil Warnock said yesterday he had no idea what fees were paid to Willie McKay to arrange the free transfer of Joey Barton, but pointed out that the deal would not have happened without the agent's help.


It was claimed yesterday that McKay was paid £1.3m, out of total agents' fees of £2.5m, to facilitate the move to London from Newcastle United. "I don't know what the figures are because I don't get involved in the financial side," said Warnock. "That saves me the hassle. Willie was working for us, Joey had a solicitor or someone working for him to sort out the things like image rights and so on.

"I know we are very careful after the problems last year [when QPR's promotion was in doubt while the FA investigated the transfer of Alejandro Faurlin] to do everything by the book. Whatever we paid was worth it, as we would not have got Joey without Willie."

McKay, speaking to Talksport, said the figures were not as high as quoted, and added: "I regard Joey Barton as a £10m player. So whatever fee I got, working on behalf of Queen's Park Rangers, was fair to say the least."

One key aspect is that if McKay was working for the club, Barton is not liable for any benefit-in-kind tax payment for his services. McKay, who said all payments were within Fifa regulations, had certainly given the impression he was acting as Barton's agent when the player's relationship with Newcastle broke down and had previously represented him at least as far back as 2007.

The Football Association was very reluctant to comment on whether it is investigating the deal. It was prepared to state, on the general principle of transfers: "We review all transactions and investigate where we deem to be appropriate."

Whether the figure is £1.3m or substantially less, it is still likely to be an eye-opening amount to most hard-pressed football fans. Were Premier League clubs to divulge the sums they pay agents, even on an annual basis as Football League clubs do, payments would most likely be driven down by supporter opprobrium. Agents reply that they are involved in trading valuable assets and charging fees in the same way City professionals do when arranging takeovers and the like. "People out there charge a percentage of profit, and we do the same," said McKay.

Some players, such as Gary Neville and Roy Keane, realised long ago that using an agent was likely to reduce their own earnings. Neville did without; Keane used a solicitor. But many players lack the status, or education, to negotiate for themselves, and the key then is choosing the right agent

www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/agent-mckay-denies-making-16313m-out-of-barton-free-transfer-2354746.html

[Jon Doeman]

www.talksport.co.uk/radio/listen-again/episode/47191

Beasley 1238

[Macmoish]

Year flashback. That "Free" Barton deal cost us quite a bit - and is still costing us.