AGENTS are in danger of crippling professional football, Rugby League and other top sports.

So says RL legend Alex Murphy, who has called on club chairman to stand up to players’ representatives.

He said: ‘‘If we are not careful, many sports will go to the wall, with the way agents are operating.

‘‘They are demanding this, that and the other, but they won’t lose out when the balloon goes up - they’ll be living it up in Monte Carlo.

'Many are money-mad'

‘‘Many of these agents are money-mad and what they’re doing is contributing to all this ill-discipline we are seeing in sport.

‘‘Agents these days are bad news. Many are only in it for one thing - the money. There are good and bad, but the bad ones outweigh the good.

‘‘We should not be seeing youngsters aged 12 and 13 landing £100,000 deals. Being paid £20,000 a week when you’re 18 or 19 is ludicrous. Players are expected to show some common sense but many can’t make their own decisions.

‘‘They are easily led and they quickly fall into traps.

‘‘The parasites and the hangers-on out there are in plentiful supply.”

Are agents ruining sport? Send us your views to webnews@manchesteronline.co.uk.

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