Are agents giving kids the right advice?

By Wendy Gee -

IAN Baird, manager of Blue Square South play-off hopefuls Eastleigh, has questioned whether young players get the right advice from agents.

With experienced loan striker Mark Nwokeji leaving the Spitfires to return to his parent club AFC Wimbledon,  Baird has been exploring the possibility of bringing in a youngster from the professional ranks.

But he finds young pros either think they have a divine right to walk straight into the side or they are badly advised by their agents.

"I've had lots of calls from Conference and League clubs about us strengthening for the play-offs and I could have brought in lads playing for Football League clubs," said Baird.

"But it's always the same thing. You've got to semi-guarantee them games.

"Young footballers in this day and age think they've got a divine right to come to a Conference South club and play.

"But it's a two-pronged thing. If you give them two or three games and they haven't done well, you've got a point in maybe leaving them out.

"For them to come in and displace the players we've already got here is difficult.

"I tried to get a young striker from Southampton who was advised by people like Martin Hunter and Jason Dodd to come here, but he's getting ridiculous advice from his agent.

"It's not fair to name the lad because it's not his fault, but we had the same sort of thing with (ex-Saint) Jamie White last year.

"His agent was always telling him he'd get him games elsewhere and consequently he's now playing in Australia.

"You get the impression some of these lads think agents are the be all and end all in making their football careers.

"But the only way to get noticed is by playing games.

"That young lad (from Saints) won't be playing and he'll probably join the 600 released by Football League clubs at the end of the season."

Eastleigh's top scorer Jamie Slabber missed Tuesday's 4-2 defeat at Welling with tweaked medial ligaments and remains a doubt for tomorrow's trip to Staines Town.

"If Jamie's out again it's a big loss," said Baird. "But Jamie Brown came in and gave a very good performance.

"As long as we don't get any more injuries, we've got no problem up front.

"Richard Gillespie has raised his concerns about not being in the side and asked if he was part of my plans.

"I said as long as we keep him fit, he's a very big player for us.

"Gilly's been a victim of his own bad luck with injuries, but whenever he's come on he's been effective.

"Shaun McAuley had also raised his doubts, but he's got into the side and done well."

Left-sided player Brett Poate is back in training after hamstring trouble and should be available as eighth-placed Eastleigh seek to avenge November's 4-1 home defeat by mid-table Staines.

"Staines are dangerous. They're not going up and they're not going down and on any given day they can beat anyone, " said Baird.

"I was bitterly disappointed to lose at Welling but, after viewing the goals on Welling TV, the foul Warren Goodhind got sent off for was outside the box so it wasn't a penalty.

"And their fourth goal was blatantly offside."