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+--- Thread: Wazza and Colleen to be Sued??? (/Thread-Wazza-and-Colleen-to-be-Sued)
Wazza and Colleen to be Sued??? - Noucamp99 - 06-02-2010
Manchester United's Wayne Rooney and his wife, Coleen, are being sued alongside their agent in a £4.3m row with a sports management firm.
The firm, Proactive Sports Management, was involved in negotiating contracts for the couple and is owed commission, Manchester Mercantile Court heard.
The deals were done through agent Paul Stretford, who quit Proactive in 2008, taking the Rooneys with him.
Since then no commission on the deals has been paid, the court heard.
Proactive received commission of up to 20% on multi-million pound deals involving the Rooneys. It claims it is still entitled to commission.
But when Mr Stretford left in acrimony in October 2008 he refused to authorise further payments to the firm, the court heard. That commission now totals £4.3m, the court heard.
Mr Stretford first signed Rooney when the footballer was a teenager playing for Everton.
Agent 'successful'
Ian Mill QC, acting for Proactive, opened the case against the Rooneys and Mr Stretford at the court on Tuesday.
"If one believes the quotes attributed in the press, it appears Mr and Mrs Rooney regard these charges against them as exploitative and financially-driven - these are the quotations that appear in a number of national newspapers," he said.
"If by financially-driven they mean the claimant wishes to recover the substantial sums due to it, I would respectfully agree, but it is hardly a ground for complaint or for criticism."
Mr Mill said that from July 2002, Paul Stretford, through Proactive, had acted for Wayne Rooney "with great success", looking after transfer dealings and his "off-field" business interests.
He also represented Coleen Rooney in her television, magazine and sponsorship deals, the QC added.
But the relationship between Proactive and Mr Stretford broke down over his involvement in a trial at Warrington Crown Court in October 2004.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) dropped the case because they could "not rely" on him as a witness, Mr Mill said.
Disciplinary hearings were then brought against Mr Stretford by the Football Association (FA) over breaches of agents rules, which led to a nine-month ban beginning in May 2009.
He left Proactive after the board refused to back financially Mr Stretford's appeal against the FA.
Proactive claims he was dismissed for gross misconduct; Mr Stretford maintains he terminated his own contract, the court heard.
Since 8 October 2008, Mr Stretford has refused to authorise payments of commission said to be due to Proactive from contracts signed by the Rooneys while with the company, Mr Mill said.
Proactive claims this amounts to £4.3m in the last 15 months.
"Where, I ask rhetorically, is the exploitation?" Mr Mill added.
"I would respectfully suggest if there is any exploitation it's the exploitation of the Rooneys by Mr Stretford who has used them to further his dispute with Proactive.
"In short, Proactive simply seeks the monies to which it is contractually entitled."
The case is scheduled to last three weeks, with the Rooneys expected to give evidence next week.
Source: BBC.co.uk
Why hear this case during the football season? I'm sure Wazza (and United) could do without the media circus and attention that will result from any court appearance.
RE: Wazza and Colleen to be Sued??? - Noucamp99 - 11-02-2010
Wayne Rooney and his wife Coleen could be spared a court appearance after a £4.3 million lawsuit launched by sports management company Proactive was adjourned.
More StoriesRooney to be sued
Player profile: Wayne Rooney
..United chief executive David Gill and player agent Paul Stretford had arrived to give evidence at Manchester Mercantile Court but they were not required after lawyers convened with the judge to adjourn until Tuesday without giving further explanation.
One theory for the adjournment is that both parties are arranging a deal that would spare the Rooneys a court appearance.
Proactive were paid up to 20 per cent on endorsement deals arranged for the couple with the likes of Nike and Coca-Cola.
When former director Stretford left the firm in October 2008 he refused to authorise further payment, with Proactive suing the Rooneys for commission unpaid after this point.
Source: Eurosport.com
A weight off his shoulders. For now, at least.
RE: Wazza and Colleen to be Sued??? - Noucamp99 - 13-02-2010
Wazza took to the stand on Friday to defend his agent. Luckily, no United game this weekend to be affected by his mind being elsewhere. The case continues. For the story, visit:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/8512892.stm
He seemed not to understand his 1st Everton contract, though...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/8509512.stm
RE: Wazza and Colleen to be Sued??? - Vazza - 13-02-2010
ya ..... when he signed hsi first prof contact . he didnt read te doc properly ...
tats nw being a burden
RE: Wazza and Colleen to be Sued??? - Red4ever - 15-02-2010
I wish I owed somone £4.3m in commission.
Hi everyone - beireejak - 07-09-2011
Principled making my blue ribbon notify at manutdpeople.com, which seems to be a wonderful forum!