You need agents to seal deals – Warnock

CARDIFF City manager Neil Warnock has defended his link with football agent Willie McKay following the Emiliano Sala tragedy.

In an interview with the Sunday Telegraph, Warnock claims he has fallen victim to a vendetta because of the tie-up.

He also says he has been “putting on a front” to give the impression he is handling criticism and rumours coming his way following the Bluebirds’ £15m record deal, but admits it has affected him badly.

The issues Warnock talks of are external, not internal. However, Warnock says he has been told by Cardiff chairman Mehmet Dalman not to get involved in replying and to focus entirely on the task of keeping the Bluebirds in the Premier League.

McKay has faced scrutiny about his own involvement in the Sala move. He admitted to making the arrangements for the doomed flight and planted stories of interest from Cardiff’s Premier League rivals West Ham and Everton “just to stimulate the interest”.

“Without that ‘buzz’ nobody would know you. Because, honestly, nobody follows the French competition [Ligue 1],” McKay is reported to have told Sala in an email.

Warnock is said to be close to McKay, but insisted his dealings with the agent had been limited down the years.

“It’s been bad, really bad behind the scenes,” Warnock told the newspaper.

“It’s suggested I am big pals with Willie McKay. Am I?

“I don’t think I am. He is an agent. You need these agents if you want to do a deal.”

Warnock says clubs need McKay when it comes to signing French players and acknowledges he also used him to land Bluebirds skipper Sol Bamba on a free transfer.

“I have been involved with three players with Willie McKay in the last eight years,” he said. “One of them has been a free transfer who has proved to be our star player and one of the best in the Premier League, so you can’t knock it.

“It’s disgusting that a lot more has been suggested, but Cardiff have dealt with these agents long before I arrived at the club.

“Ask anyone in the game, if you want a player from France or a French player, 99 per cent of the time you will have to deal with Willie McKay, or someone like him. If you want to get the job done, then you need the Willie McKays of this world.”

He added: “There has been a vendetta in some quarters, of that I am sure.”