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Stevens looks into agent Mark Curtis deals
England - 07 December, 2006
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It looks like Lord Stevens and his Quest team will ask – yet again – for a little more time to work on an issue during its bungs inquiry.
The issue now relates to some of the outstanding 39 transfers when it reports to the Premier League on its "bungs" inquiry next week.
The clubs will then decide whether to back the independent inquiry to its conclusion or hand it over to the Football Association's compliance unit.
While Quest has examined alleged payments to Craig Allardyce, son of the Bolton manager Sam, in three Bolton signings highlighted by the BBC's Panorama programme in September, it might be looking into Mark Curtis. Craig Allardyce used to work for Curtis.
Curtis has been the subject of public complaints for transfers he was involved in at West Bromwich Albion.
FIFA is investigating the transfer of Robert Earnshaw from Cardiff City to West Brom in August 2004. The striker's agent, Mel Eves, complained that he expected to deal with club officials but instead had to negotiate with Curtis. At the time, Curtis was agent to Albion's manager, Gary Megson, and was retained by the club to negotiate transfers.
A case was opened last February by FIFA regarding Earnshaw's transfer from Cardiff City to West Bromwich Albion. After the transfer, Earnshaw had a written request to found out which agents were involved with the deal.
Albion cut ties with Curtis following a deal to sign Martin Albrechtsen from FC Copenhagen in June 2004. The club paid GBP 2.5 million but later discovered FC Copenhagen was seeking only GBP 2 million.
Curtis refuted that claim but Albion made an official complaint and sent a file of evidence to the FA's compliance unit in July this year.
"Details of this transfer have also been proactively made available to the Quest inquiry," the club said in a statement.
Curtis was fined GBP 7,500 for improper conduct in November 1999, following an illicit payment when Jermaine Pennant moved from Notts County to Arsenal. Pennant's agent, Sky Andrew, who still represents the player, complained to the FA that the deal was done without his involvement.
In April 2002, Curtis was paid approximately GBP 1 million when his company, Sports Player Management, was taken over by Premier Management. Curtis then gradually moved into brokering transfers for clubs, rather than representing players.
Craig Allardyce registered as an agent after retiring as a player in 2000. He worked for Curtis and Sports Player Management though, following reports of conflicting interests, he was contractually barred from working on Bolton deals while working for Curtis.
Panorama, which featured three agents paying bungs to managers to pave the way for deals, said Craig Allardyce was paid as an intermediary three times from July 2004 to January 2006.
Sam Allardyce was asked, while sitting with Curtis, if he knew his son had been paid on those deals. Curtis said to Allardyce: "You weren't knowingly aware of it, not aware."
Stevens said his team was being briefed by the BBC on the evidence gathered by the programme. Peter Harrison, one of the agents filmed on Panorama, said he worked on two of the deals, and paid Craig Allardyce, but said this was not wrong because Allardyce had worked legitimately on both.
Harrison said he was questioned by Quest's investigators, and expects to be exonerated.
"I went to see them in London and explained everything," Harrison said. "I took my bank statements, and they taped the conversation. I'm not into anything dodgy. They have been to Bolton to speak to various people about the deals, and I am relaxed about that. Most people in football, and my clients, have stood by me. I just want Quest to hurry up and say what they have to say."
Harrison said he would tell all once Stevens' report is filed.
Curtis worked for West Brom when they signed Albrechtsen on June 3, 2004 and Earnshaw on August 30, 2004. Both signings fall within the parameters of the inquiry, which was launched in March to review 362 Premier League transfers from January 2004 through 2006.
Curtis has said he acted properly in both deals. West Brom sources said the Albrechtsen deal led to Curtis' banishment.
In April, Premier Management announced that Sports Player Management had been put into liquidation due to "arrears of unpaid taxes dating back to the financial year ended 28 February 2002."
Curtis received GBP 1 million-plus for the company in April 2002, but the full tax liabilities accrued before that date have not been paid. A spokeswoman for the Official Receiver said Sports Player Management owed an estimated GBP 600,000 to creditors.
On August 23, 2004, Curtis left Premier Management and gave up all his shares for GBP 1.
The issue now relates to some of the outstanding 39 transfers when it reports to the Premier League on its "bungs" inquiry next week.
The clubs will then decide whether to back the independent inquiry to its conclusion or hand it over to the Football Association's compliance unit.
While Quest has examined alleged payments to Craig Allardyce, son of the Bolton manager Sam, in three Bolton signings highlighted by the BBC's Panorama programme in September, it might be looking into Mark Curtis. Craig Allardyce used to work for Curtis.
Curtis has been the subject of public complaints for transfers he was involved in at West Bromwich Albion.
FIFA is investigating the transfer of Robert Earnshaw from Cardiff City to West Brom in August 2004. The striker's agent, Mel Eves, complained that he expected to deal with club officials but instead had to negotiate with Curtis. At the time, Curtis was agent to Albion's manager, Gary Megson, and was retained by the club to negotiate transfers.
A case was opened last February by FIFA regarding Earnshaw's transfer from Cardiff City to West Bromwich Albion. After the transfer, Earnshaw had a written request to found out which agents were involved with the deal.
Albion cut ties with Curtis following a deal to sign Martin Albrechtsen from FC Copenhagen in June 2004. The club paid GBP 2.5 million but later discovered FC Copenhagen was seeking only GBP 2 million.
Curtis refuted that claim but Albion made an official complaint and sent a file of evidence to the FA's compliance unit in July this year.
"Details of this transfer have also been proactively made available to the Quest inquiry," the club said in a statement.
Curtis was fined GBP 7,500 for improper conduct in November 1999, following an illicit payment when Jermaine Pennant moved from Notts County to Arsenal. Pennant's agent, Sky Andrew, who still represents the player, complained to the FA that the deal was done without his involvement.
In April 2002, Curtis was paid approximately GBP 1 million when his company, Sports Player Management, was taken over by Premier Management. Curtis then gradually moved into brokering transfers for clubs, rather than representing players.
Craig Allardyce registered as an agent after retiring as a player in 2000. He worked for Curtis and Sports Player Management though, following reports of conflicting interests, he was contractually barred from working on Bolton deals while working for Curtis.
Panorama, which featured three agents paying bungs to managers to pave the way for deals, said Craig Allardyce was paid as an intermediary three times from July 2004 to January 2006.
Sam Allardyce was asked, while sitting with Curtis, if he knew his son had been paid on those deals. Curtis said to Allardyce: "You weren't knowingly aware of it, not aware."
Stevens said his team was being briefed by the BBC on the evidence gathered by the programme. Peter Harrison, one of the agents filmed on Panorama, said he worked on two of the deals, and paid Craig Allardyce, but said this was not wrong because Allardyce had worked legitimately on both.
Harrison said he was questioned by Quest's investigators, and expects to be exonerated.
"I went to see them in London and explained everything," Harrison said. "I took my bank statements, and they taped the conversation. I'm not into anything dodgy. They have been to Bolton to speak to various people about the deals, and I am relaxed about that. Most people in football, and my clients, have stood by me. I just want Quest to hurry up and say what they have to say."
Harrison said he would tell all once Stevens' report is filed.
Curtis worked for West Brom when they signed Albrechtsen on June 3, 2004 and Earnshaw on August 30, 2004. Both signings fall within the parameters of the inquiry, which was launched in March to review 362 Premier League transfers from January 2004 through 2006.
Curtis has said he acted properly in both deals. West Brom sources said the Albrechtsen deal led to Curtis' banishment.
In April, Premier Management announced that Sports Player Management had been put into liquidation due to "arrears of unpaid taxes dating back to the financial year ended 28 February 2002."
Curtis received GBP 1 million-plus for the company in April 2002, but the full tax liabilities accrued before that date have not been paid. A spokeswoman for the Official Receiver said Sports Player Management owed an estimated GBP 600,000 to creditors.
On August 23, 2004, Curtis left Premier Management and gave up all his shares for GBP 1.
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