Follow the money

That was the advice given by the informer known as ‘Deep Throat’ to journalists investigating the Watergate affair in the States, some 30 years ago.

The same advice throws light on the Lescott affair.   Deep Throat’s thinking was that the money trail always leads to who is organising the action, and where the real power lies. He was right and Lescott’s move to Man City, against David Moyes’s wishes, was orchestrated by two of football’s biggest power/money brokers, Pini Zahavi and Kia Joorabchian.

Zahavi is more than an agent, he is a fixer at the highest level. He brought Abramovich to Chelsea and has worked on many of their signings. He worked on the latest takevover at Portsmouth and the one before. He took Rio Ferdinand from West Ham to Leeds, then Leeds to Old Trafford. Most recently he took Robinho to Man City, he brought the Yak to us. Joorabchian has pioneered the plan whereby agents ‘own’ players, not clubs, and used it to collect millions from the Tevez moves to United, then City. Together they are a formidable force with connections everywhere. When City could see they were getting nowhere with Moyes, they brought the pair in and negotiated round him.

It just so happens that Zahavi is close to billionaire Philip Green, who in turn is close to Bill Kenwright. Some time ago, Zahavi’s connections helped Louis Saha when he wanted to leave Fulham for United and Al Fayed was refusing to talk them. Zahvi fixed up a meeting, at the home of Philip Green in the South of France, between Al Fayed and David Gill, United’s Chief Executive. The deal was done, Saha moved to United with Al Fayed grumbling, but agreeing. That’s the way it often works at the top of the Premier League, through a web of connections, and so it proved again as Lescott signed for City.

The money factor is always there but it doesn’t mean the less wealthy clubs are out of the game. If they have a manager like David Moyes of course. Because who you sign, is always more important than how much you pay. That’s where Moyes scores and we can see the team building, improving all the time, as he adds shrewd signings. The latest one, Lucas Neill, makes the point. He joins his fellow countryman Tim Cahill and the thing about Aussies is – they just hate losing. Really hate it, look at the cricket team!

It’s a quality money can’t always buy – no matter how much you follow it.

By KHB