The Archive

The FA have introduced regulations for agents, reports Neil Rose

The summer 2007 transfer window may have been the most bountiful ever, but for agents it may be the last off-season of plenty. The FA’s new Football Agents Regulations came into force on September 1, but agents should be grateful that they at least had this summer – only the threat of legal action stopped the changes going live in May. It is a sign of the disquiet over agents that the FA have revised their rules – which came into force as recently as January 2006 – so quickly. A review began shortly afterwards and its proposals went through several redrafts in an effort to reach an agreement. But the FA eventually realised that some would object whatever.

Read more…

If it all becomes too much, what can Leeds fans do? Rob Freeman looks at how they could really give Ken Bates something to think about

The past four months have probably been the most turbulent in Leeds United’s history: relegation to the third tier for the first time, a very messy administration, a transfer embargo lifted days before the beginning of the season and two sets of points deductions, meaning that at the time of writing they have a 100 per cent record, but are four points adrift at the bottom.

Read more…

Did Giorgio Chinaglia try to make the president of Lazio an offer he couldn’t refuse? Matthew Barker reports on a playing legend being charged with extortion

Giorgio Chinaglia has never been a man to waste too much time worrying about what others might think of him. Certainly few in Italy are expecting the one-time Azzurri striker to turn up at a Rome courthouse on October 26 to answer accusations of extortion and trying to manipulate share prices.

Read more…

To suggest that the French midfielder has an attitude problem would be like saying Tewkesbury has been a bit damp of late. James Eastham reports on a career that has gone nowhere, via pretty much everywhere

Stéphane Dalmat scored a glorious goal in the Champions League last season. Playing for Bordeaux, he picked up the ball on the halfway line, breezed past an opponent and lobbed PSV Eindhoven’s goalkeeper, Gomes, from 25 yards. In the Sky TV studio, Jamie Redknapp, Dalmat’s team-mate at Spurs in 2003-04, described the midfielder along the lines of being “one of the most skilful players I’ve ever seen”, but labelled his attitude “shocking”.

Read more…

Gordon Smith takes charge at the SFA, Neil Forsyth reports

When the SFA announced their choice for a new chief executive in June, few expected to hear a name that would cause a flicker of recognition, let alone debate and a degree of bewilderment among followers of the national game.

Read more…