Agent charged over attack in pub toilet

A LEAdING football agent has been charged with wounding with intent following an attack in a pub toilet which put a man in his 50s in hospital. Officers from Greater Manchester Police released images of two men following the incident, appealing to the public for help in identifying those responsible. One of the men in the images was James Featherstone, whose company represents a number of well-known football figures including Sheffield Wednesday manager Garry Monk and Manchester United defender Chris Smalling. Featherstone, 39, subsequently attended a voluntary interview with officers investigating the case in July. And he has now been charged with section 18 wounding with intent along with another man, Benjamin Cowgill, 38. Both are due to appear at Manchester and Salford Magistrates’ Court on November 5. When previously contacted by

Sportsmail about the incident, Featherstone (right), whose OmniSports agency client list also includes Cardiff City pair Joe Bennett and Neil Etheridge, said he had already spoken to officers. ‘I replied to the appeal for information instantly,’ he explained. ‘I have spoken with the police and obviously I’m more than happy to assist them in any way I can with their enquiry.’ The attack happened at the Stamford Arms in the village of Bowdon, near Altrincham, at around 9pm on March 8. The victim, who was left with lacerations to the left side of his scalp and eyebrow which required hospital treatment, was assaulted after he entered the gents’ toilets. When launching the appeal for information which included the images — before Featherstone, of Altrincham, contacted the police — detective Constable Gareth Richards said: ‘This was a nasty assault that left a man needing hospital treatment. He has since recovered and we’re determined to find the people who have attacked him.’