Agent ‘siphoned off huge sum from top footballer’s account’

AN England footballer has revealed his shock at finding there was over half a million pounds missing from a bank account which had allegedly been siphoned off by his dishonest agent to prop up his failing businesses.

Aston Villa winger Stewart Downing, 26, had trusted registered agent Ian Elliott, 53, to look after his finances since he signed his first £11,000 a week professional deal at Middlesbrough at the age of 20.

But he was shocked when he looked over the bank account of his company Stewart Downing Promotions (SDP) expecting to find up to £700,000 from wages and image rights – only to see it contained just £11,000.

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Downing’s fledgling career had originally been looked after by his father, an industrial painter, until the pair decided they needed professional assistance.

The winger’s relationship with agent Elliott, whom he had been introduced to by ex-footballer Chris Waddle, eventually turned sour during the January 2007 transfer window when he revealed Tottenham Hotspur were interested in signing promising Downing – something the player did not want publicised as he had no desire to leave the North-East club.

Prosecuting at York Crown Court, where Elliott denies four counts of fraud, Christopher Attwooll said Elliott was in total control of the footballer’s finances, to the point when the player would sign documents presented to him without even reading them.

This allowed Elliott, of Newcastle, to become a director of SDP without the player’s knowledge.

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Mr Attwooll said: “He abused the trust put in him by manipulating the player’s professional life and in doing he so siphoned off a lot of money into his own failing business projects.

“He was a first team midfield player for Middlesbrough, a successful player who plays for England. He first signed for Middlesbrough as a schoolboy at 15 and was advised by his parents, particularly his father.

“However, as he progressed in the extremely lucrative world of football, there came a time when he needed an agent, someone who would have his best interests at heart and protect him from the pitfalls of the game.

“Stewart soon came to totally rely on and trust his now well-established agent. If the defendant told Stewart to sign something, as it was in his best interests he would, sometimes without reading or understanding the document.”

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Giving evidence, Downing said the relationship broke down when Elliott revealed Tottenham’s interest in him on a radio show despite Downing having no desire to leave his home-town club.

He said: “What he said was unsettling.

“I had a game the next day. I relied on him to do most things on the business side. I then discovered a lot of money missing.”

He confirmed to Mr Attwooll he had no idea Elliott had become a director in his company, instead believing he was just a secretary.

He trusted Elliott to conduct all his contract negotiations with Middlesbrough and also look after his image rights, which were worth £1m over the duration of his final contract with the club.

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It was also alleged Elliott acted as agent for Middlesbrough while also acting for Downing during contract regulations – something described in court as “a conflict of interests” and forbidden by the Football Association.

Downing played for Middlesbrough for eight years with just a short loan spell to Sunderland in between, and played for his country in the 2006 World Cup. He then moved to Aston Villa for £10m in 2009.

The trial, expected to last for three weeks, continues.