Agent Says Fans Are 'Laughing' At Inquiry

Last updated : 01 July 2007 By Footy Mad - Editor
Now one of the football agents criticised in Lord Stevens' inquiry into Premier League transfers has revealed he has been asked to provide further information to the Quest team.

But Barry Silkman (who the final Quest report said had failed to initially disclose his involvement in all the transactions in which he received fees) insists the whole thing is a "joke".

Barry Silkman: "People inside football, people that really matter - the top chairman, the chief executives and managers - they're laughing at it. They're actually laughing because they don't understand what the problem is.

"They sent me 123 questions to answer. I've answered everything they have asked me so far and they will be answered in due course.

"They have come out with statements saying they're not happy with certain transfers but they're not saying what they think is wrong.

"This all started with a bungs allegation.

"These people have been working on it for 18 months. They can't find any bungs to football managers, football coaches, chairmen, chief executives - they can't find anything.

"It reminds me of a film that was out in 1995 called the 'Usual Suspects'. It all revolved around a character called Kaiser Soze.

"In that film, he said the greatest trick the devil ever pulled was making people think he didn't exist. The greatest trick Lord Stevens has pulled is making people believe that bungs do exist.

"I've been an agent for 13 years and not one manager, chief executive, chairman has ever said to me 'if we do this deal can we get money out of it'."