Neville hits out at pampered stars

Gary Neville has backed Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson's assertion that many of the modern players are mollycoddled.

Neville: Backs Fergie comments
Neville: Backs Fergie comments

Ferguson said in a speech at a League Managers Association dinner last week players were "cocooned" by their agents and had become "fragile".

Neville, writing in the Sunday Times of Malta, said: "I completely agree with his sentiments.

"It is one of my pet hates when I see players who have agents that do everything for them.

"They don't know how to set up their own bank account, they don't know what they're spending their money on and they can't make their own decisions.

"Not every player is like that, but some are now totally dependent on agents and advisers.

"For me, life is an education and you learn things as you go through it.

"I think a footballer should sit down and negotiate with a club, even if his agent is sitting with him. It is in a player's best interests to be there and see what is going on.

"The idea of allowing someone to look after your financial and professional existence is something I cannot agree with.

"There are some agents who do a good job looking after players, but there are others who stifle and mollycoddle players.

"Some agents will come into a player's life when he is 20, leave his life at 34 and never want to know that player again.

"Every footballer needs an adviser at some point.

"But a player doesn't need to pay between five and 15% of his wages to a guy to set up a bank account, buy him a new fridge, or ask his club's chief executive for a pay rise."

Your Comments

mattsmith (Manchester United fan)

"liverpool_1986 "This may be true but didnt Fergie do EXACTLY the same interview about 3days ago. Its like Neville is a little Fergie parrot or something." - Could be worse I guess, Neville could be at a club where the manager and players have no relationship at all. Rafa really is a peoples person!

"

lumlums (Manchester United fan)

"imraninho: Yes, the same man does other things with wiring. He's an electrician"

longy78 (Millwall fan)

"He is just Fergie's puppet. Everytime Fergie says something, out comes Neville with the same thing !!"

liverpool_1986

"This may be true but didnt Fergie do EXACTLY the same interview about 3days ago.

Its like Neville is a little Fergie parrot or something.

"

t_g (Manchester United fan)

"Well, I agree with Neville. Although he is probably at a club that does not f**** players over contracts, there are some clubs where a player needs help in negociating. But at least be part of it and learn something. "

fulisiakantora (Manchester United fan)

"Rio is one of them!!!! SACK HIM!! ~LUHG~"

Villa82 (Aston Villa fan)

"I've heard James Milner uses the PFA to help with his negotiations... and that's it. He doesn't have an agent, buys his own fridge and is an all round top bloke - probably. UTV"

salvador (Manchester United fan)

"Imraniho - That little man is called Mike Phelan."

boxxcar (Manchester United fan)

"Spot on Neville & zendenling (Chelsea fan)"

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