Said this before, but having had a lad in the academy set up, seen agents hanging about offering gifts to lads (honestly I consider it similar to child abuse!), then had to deal with my lads despair over how he was treated with no explanation and then simply tossed aside (my telling the wanker in charge of the academy what I thought of them all might not have helped) there is a real problem in the game that needs addressing.
The FA have the power to do more. Agents should be paid reps of the FA or PFA, offering their services for a set fee depending on the level.
I know players pay into a PFA pension, but more needs to be done when these lads finish playing and earning at young ages with 2 thirds of their life still to go! A percentage of their salary (over those earning 150k a year) should be deducted from wages of British players and invested in a hedge fund professionally. Then returned as a monthly salary if needed or kept investing if not for use when required.
Players should have to work minimum hours per week at the club. Not 3 hrs for training and the rest of the days your own to get pissed, gamble or god knows what else getting into bother. (This can be waivered for those with partners and kids) that way they can be meaningfully employed doing charity work, taking college lessons etc. I’m not suggesting 8 hrs a day, but 6 wouldn’t hurt!
These really are simple solutions, that would be easy to implement. And more could be done if we sat down to do it.
