Published: Thursday, 4th September, 2008 12:00
Reading slam meddling agents
By Anthony Smith
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Staying put: Reading deny any contact with Tottenham regarding Kevin Doyle.
READING have taken a swipe at football agents after Republic of Ireland duo Stephen Hunt and Kevin Doyle voiced their disappointment at failing to secure deadline-day moves.
Everton boss David Moyes was reported to have made a £3.5 million bid for winger Hunt shortly before Monday’s midnight deadline.
And it was rumoured Tottenham Hotspur made a late attempt to call the Royals regarding Doyle’s availability as Dimitar Berbatov edged near a £30.75 million move to Manchester United – but could not get an answer.
But Royals director of football Nick Hammond told The Chronicle: “There was no official contact from any club over the weekend.
“But someone has been misinformed somewhere down the line, although that is often the way with football and players’ agents these days.”
He added: “My phone was ringing until 10.20pm on Monday night with agents offering me players we had never discussed before and some I have never heard of. It’s a ridiculous situation.
“Players also take stock of what their agents say so situations can become easily confused.
“If we are interested in a player we won’t call their agent. We will contact their club directly to make an official inquiry or an official bid.
“That’s how we like doing things and it stops all these unnecessary rumours flying around.”
Manager Steve Coppell also accused agents of meddling in transfer dealings for their own financial benefit.
“Agents know they have 24 hours to make as much money as they can,” he said. “The way to do that is to cause unrest and unsettle players – make them appear more desirable than they may be.
“I think we have been more than fair to everyone in the squad. Everyone had a price and, if it was met, I made a deal available to the player. That gave everyone the opportunity to move if conditions were met.”
Reading confirmed Moyes had a conversation with Coppell on Sunday but insist no bid was made.
Hammond explained: “Steve Coppell called me on Sunday to say he had spoken to David Moyes to ask about the situation of a couple of players. But that was it. Managers have conversations all of the time but there was no official bid and no other contact.
“Stephen Hunt signed an exceptionally good contract in January. For one reason or another most clubs know what his contractual situation is. But we have had no official contact about him over the summer.”
And Coppell also denied a bid had been lodged by the Toffees: “That was not the case. I spoke to David Moyes on Sunday and he asked about the situation regarding a number of players. I explained the situation and never heard from him again.”
Aston Villa offered £5 million for Doyle earlier this summer but Reading were looking for more. However, a startling revelation emerged this week that Spurs boss Juande Ramos wanted the 24-year-old striker to boost their firepower with Berbatov, Robbie Keane and Jermain Defoe all now departed.
However, Hammond, insisted: “I have a very good relationship with Damien Comolli at Spurs and I also know Daniel Levy.
“If Tottenham had been interested they would have called me directly, I have no doubt about that. But there was no contact, there is no truth in it whatsoever.”
Nevertheless, Hunt appeared to be under the impression a firm offer rising to £5 million had been made by Everton and criticised Reading for blocking his move back to the Premier League.
Speaking ahead of Ireland’s World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Montenegro, Hunt, 27, stated: “It was a big club and it was disappointing that Reading could not have helped me out a little bit to benefit my career. For what I have done for them, it would have been nice.
“I spoke to Reading in terms of leaving and I respect the manager and know where he is coming from, but I am still disappointed.
“I have not been a bad apple over the last two or three years. I could have been, but I was ultra professional and I probably deserve a little bit better.
“From what I was told, Reading would have got a good figure with the rest to follow over a certain period. They would have got the £5 million within the year but they did not want to budge.”
But Hunt, who was last season’s Player of the Year, also admitted: “If a club wanted me that badly they would have paid the £5m up front so I must not have been doing that well.
“At the same time, I have done myself justice in the Premier League where I am determined to get back to – with or without Reading.”
The Royals lost three players to Premier League clubs over the summer with Ibrahima Sonko and Dave Kitson both at Stoke City and Nicky Shorey at Aston Villa. Glen Little also joined Portsmouth but he was out of contract.
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