Powell - Agents key to football

Football agent Darryl Powell has rejected Gary Neville's suggestions that there are "not many" good agents in the game.

The Manchester United defender launched a stinging attack on the profession on Thursday but Powell, a former Derby, Birmingham and Sheffield Wednesday player who went to the 1998 World Cup with Jamaica, has questioned Neville's credentials to speak about the issue.

He told Sky Sports News: "Gary hasn't got a clue. He is a very good football player but he has been at Manchester United from the age of 10 or 11 and he's never moved. In terms of agency, he doesn't know what it entails."

Powell added: "The guys [I have worked with] have been happy with the moves, the clubs have been happy and the former clubs have got paid.

"Be it houses, commercial property or stock dealing, there's always a middle man. Football is a business."

Powell admitted that there were some agents who sullied the reputation of others, but insisted it is not a problem that is isolated to football.

"There are bad agents but there aren't as many as Gary is making out and they're not making as much money as Gary is making out."

Neville had been unequivocal in his views. He said: "I'd like to see the removal of agents from the game - make players not so reliant on them."

Asked if there were any good agents, he said: "I don't know many. There is a concern for me, and it always has been.

"Our guy can go in [to a deal] and expect to be giving hundreds of thousands or, in this day and age, even millions [to an agent] - and that money is going out of the game. The clubs should keep that money - or, if they're earning it, the players."