numpty Posted December 15, 2010 Report Share Posted December 15, 2010 http://www.express.co.uk/football/view/217...reak-any-rules- AGENT INSISTS BROWN’S DONS SWITCH DIDN’T BREAK ANY RULES Wednesday December 15,2010 By Scott Burns EXCLUSIVE THE agent who engineered Craig Brown’s switch to Aberdeen is adamant his client and the Pittodrie club are both in the clear as they did not break any rules regarding the appointment. Express Sport can reveal that top deal-maker Athole Still was the man behind the former Scotland manager’s controversial move from Motherwell to the Dons. SPL officials are currently investigating the switch after the Fir Park club made an official complaint over Aberdeen’s handling of the affair, claiming they didn’t ask for permission to speak to their former boss. Question marks also remain over Brown, above, after he initially turned down the Aberdeen job and then less than 24 hours later made his dramatic U-turn and walked out of Motherwell, where he had refused to sign a contract. Still revealed he was the man who initially made contact with Aberdeen and then went to headhunt 70-year-old Brown to see if he would be interested in succeeding Mark McGhee. Still, who has also acted for Sven Goran-Eriksson, Gordon Strachan and former Scotland boss George Burley, explained: “What I can say is that neither Craig nor Aberdeen acted unethically in the whole situation. I am sure the finger is now being pointed at the agent, but I also know I have done nothing wrong. “I went to Aberdeen and approached them to suggest Craig because I knew he was working without a contract. Craig did not ask me to put his name forward to Aberdeen.” Aberdeen-born Still insists he never approached Brown about the Dons job until he knew there was interest from Pittodrie. “I’m an Aberdeen boy,” said Still. “It’s my club and it’s in my genes. So when I heard they were looking for a new manager I thought Craig might be a good appointment for them. I went to Aberdeen first and asked them if they would be interested in Craig. “I spoke to [chief executive] Duncan Fraser and he said, ‘Goodness, do you think he would come here?’ “I explained that Craig was working without a contract and I got some very positive vibes back from Duncan. “At that point, I must stress there had been absolutely no contact between Craig and Aberdeen.” Still added: “I then went to Craig and said, ‘The Aberdeen job is up, would it be of interest to you?’ “I then told him that I had been in touch with Aberdeen and if he was interested then they would be interested in talking to him. “Craig said, ‘Let me think about things and I will also go away and discuss everything with Archie’ [Knox]. Craig then agreed to speak to Aberdeen. “I left Craig to it and it looked like the deal wasn’t going to happen. Aberdeen then came back and tried Craig again. “He then had a change of heart and told me, ‘I have thought about it and if all is right then I would like to take the job’.” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LadywellToi Posted December 15, 2010 Report Share Posted December 15, 2010 Goodness, what a load of bullsh!t So Craig working without a contract was surprising news to another SPL chief executive. Does he live in the same 80's bubble as the Dons fans? I hope they all get what's coming to them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weeyin Posted December 15, 2010 Report Share Posted December 15, 2010 Another prime example of how agents are ruining (or have ruined) the game. As always, the more unrest they generate, the more profit they make. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Posted December 15, 2010 Report Share Posted December 15, 2010 If anything that implicates him more, he makes no mention about ever speaking to Motherwell, therefore, tapping, no? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rickoza Posted December 15, 2010 Report Share Posted December 15, 2010 It smacks of anything but ethical. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LadywellToi Posted December 15, 2010 Report Share Posted December 15, 2010 I'd say neil you've hit the nail on the head, prepare for some rapid back-tracking. It confirms Aberdeen sanctioned Craig Brown being targeted via an agent without contacting the club. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigmcd Posted December 15, 2010 Report Share Posted December 15, 2010 yet more lies because craig brown said when he joined motherwell that at his age he didnt need an agent so more bullshit from mr brown. But lets put it behind us and look forward to the new manager coming in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigshinyhead Posted December 15, 2010 Report Share Posted December 15, 2010 Don't know about fitba' which seems to have it's own set of rules, but in any other industry it would be highly unethical for an agent/headhunter/professional arsehole* to approach a prospective employer on somebody's behalf without the applicant's prior permission. *Delete as applicable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmo Posted December 15, 2010 Report Share Posted December 15, 2010 Don't know about fitba' which seems to have it's own set of rules but in any other industry it would be highly unethical for an agent/headhunter/professional arsehole* to approach a prospective employer on somebody's behalf without the applicant's prior permission. *Deleta as applicable. Agreed, and I would say it would result in court action in some instances. Brown, Bawbag agent and Aberdeen should at least have made sure they were telling the same story before going to the press. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
numpty Posted December 15, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 15, 2010 yet more lies because craig brown said when he joined motherwell that at his age he didnt need an agent so more bullshit from mr brown. My original thought too, but this guy wasn't Brown's agent, and Brown did say (albeit later, IIRC) that "an agent approached him". All semantics I know, but at least he doesn't seem to have been actually fibbing about that, even if he was being economical with the truth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rambunctious Posted December 15, 2010 Report Share Posted December 15, 2010 The thing i don't understand about all of this is why wouldn't they speak to motherwell?? To at least confirm that he wasn't under contract never mind to ask permission to speak to him. Did Aberdeen,the agent and Brown think that they could go for a quick wee chat, thrash out a deal and get him to quit motherwell and sign for them the next day without anybody noticing or thinking something something was amiss? To me it just seems crazy to not ask or even tell us that they wanted to speak to our manager. It's all their own fucking fault Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Diggle Posted December 15, 2010 Report Share Posted December 15, 2010 I think we forget about the whole affair and the scheming fuckers involved. all of us have been stitched up like a kipper by a man who portrayed himself as a wee gentleman who came out of retirement to help us out while we searched for a manager. he was initially grateful for a couple of games but then had it extended cos it was all going well. It was continually put across as some last enjoyable hurrah before he called it a day. He dropped us in the shit when, although it was obviously extended, basically he was here until we got someone else in. that was the agreement. he fucks off before we get a chance. What a treacherous wee fuck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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