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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. MAIL
TELEGRAPH/Luke Edwards - 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.
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. Telegraph
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 Independent
TALKSPORT
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.” Talksport: Click to Listen
EARLIER STORIES RE WILLIE MCKAY, JOEY BARTON & QPR
DAILY MAIL - McKay in spotlight over Barton's QPR deal
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 Daily Mail
THE SUN/Rob Beasley -Agents coin £2.5m from Joey Barton’s ‘free’ transfer
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." The Sun
The Star (Malaysia) - MAS unveils QPR deal
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has informed Bursa Malaysia that it had announced a deal with UK’s Queens Park Rangers Football Club (QPR) on Monday to sponsor the jerseys of the club’s players during its home matches in the Barclays Premier League (BPL) for the seasons 2011/2012 and 2012/2013. However, the cost of sponsorship was not disclosed.
MAS executive director Moham-med Rashdan Mohd Yusof said the airline was elated to be associated with QPR’s ascendancy to the Premier League and that its sponsorship of the QPR home jersey, together with AirAsia Bhd’s sponsorship of QPR’s away jerseys, was a first for the Premier League.
AirAsia had also announced its sponsorship of QPR’s away match and “third” jerseys for the same two seasons of the BPL on Monday.
This sponsorship is considered the first in the history of professional football globally, where two airlines from the same country have teamed up to sponsor a football team. This deal is said to showcase the commitment of both airlines towards the success of their recent collaborative co-operation framework concluded.
“This sponsorship enables MAS to reinforce its global full-service presence and premium franchise via football fans and lovers from all over Europe, the Americas, Asia-Pacific, Australia and all the four corners of the world. This sponsorship is the first major initiative of our new brand and marketing strategy that would see important advertising money spent on boosting our top line. This is a key component in our drive to regain global market share, profitability and pride for the people of MAS,” Rashdan said in a media statement.
Meanwhile QPR chief executive officer Philip Beard said the new deal with the airlines was an exciting venture for the club.
“We are extremely positive about building a thriving relationship with both businesses in a bid to broaden our exposure in South-East Asia and further afield. This is a remarkable deal for the club and brings further positive news following a highly successful few weeks since the takeover,” he said.
The new home game jersey, adorned with the MAS logo, was worn for the first time at the showdown against Newcastle United at Loftus Road Stadium on Monday.
StarBiz reported yesterday quoting sources that MAS will fork out some RM18mil or £3.7mil to sponsor QPR’s home jerseys for two years.
The source added that the total two-year QPR sponsorship fee for both MAS and AirAsia would cost some RM30mil (£6.2mil).
Some 60% of the total sponsorship fee would be absorbed by MAS (as home jersey sponsorships tend to cost more) while the balance is covered by AirAsia and its related companies, which could involve sister company AirAsia X, sources disclosed.
AirAsia’s chief steward and major shareholder Tan Sri Tony Fernandes and his partner, Datuk Kamarudin Meranun, collectively own a 75% stake in Tune QPR Sdn Bhd, which in turn owns 66% of QPR Holdings Ltd. Fernandes, who only recently acquired the stake in the football club, is currently QPR’s chairman.
AirAsia told Bursa on Monday that it would pay QPR some £500,000 (RM2.4mil) as sponsorship fees for the duration of the two-year term.
Fernandes told reporters yesterday on the sidelines of the Forbes Global CEO Conference that branding was a powerful mechanism of growing an airline’s presence globally and airlines need to invest accordingly.
“AirAsia has grown from two planes to 100, that didn’t come by sheer luck. It came by investing in cultural and sporting activities. We branded. When you go to London now, everyone knows AirAsia. That’s very tough for a small company from Malaysia. If we continue not to brand ourselves, then we might as well allow Etihad (Airways), Emirates, Singapore Airlines, and Cathay Pacific (Airways) to be national carriers of this country. AirAsia built itself by investing in the brand. We sponsored Manchester United, F1, Oakland Raiders in the US -that’s how we built a brand,” he said.
“I’m not here to confirm or deny the numbers, we don’t even know how much it’ll be over the two years, but its a tiny investment in relation to what you want to build.”
The Star
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