Agent riles McIlroy
14 Jun 2007 - 12:39:38
Morecambe boss Sammy McIlroy has slammed Chris Blackburn's agent after learning that the cultured defender is likely to sign for Swindon Town this summer.
Since securing promotion to the Football League for the first time in their history less than one month ago, the Shrimps have already lost Danny Carlton to Carlisle United, and McIlroy is livid.
"It riles me," he told the Morecambe & Lancaster Citizen. "The agent will not get back to me and that annoys me because I know him personally.
"He's touted Chris Blackburn to Swindon. I've spoken to Swindon's manager Paul Sturrock and he says he's been offered the player but hasn't signed him as he's in India.
"It annoys me so much because, without being disrespectful, we can't compete with Swindon. They're a bigger club.
"But we're not getting a crack at the whip because of the agent. They go behind your back and you wonder what their motives are. It's not all of them - but some give the profession a bad name.
"I want to sign Chris Blackburn and I want people to know that. When we spoke I said that we'd talk more when we knew what division we'd be in - that's the last I heard from his agent and it's wrong."