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

Posted Wednesday, September 14, 2011 by thesun.co.uk

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

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."