SOME of the stories of the off-the-field behaviour of our modern day players are hard to believe.

So are their salaries.

Sometimes it must be extremely difficult if they are not being given the right guidance.

This has to come not only from family and managers and coaches at the club but also their agents, who after all, are given a living on the back of their young charges.

A lot of criticism is currently being levelled in our own area at one of the biggest agencies in the country who are believed to be spreading rumours in the national press to unsettle a whole club so as to enable enable their player to get his transfer.

I remember in the early days of agents, one very well known character came to The Dell with a youngster who I knew was keen to sign for us.

The agent's cigar came in the door ahead of him and he walked towards me, hand outstretched, saying how he was 'monster pleased' to see me.

Before shaking his hand I opened the window of my office and asked him to throw out the cigar.

He thought I was kidding, but I wasn't, and after he eventually did the deed, I said: "Okay, you sit down while I talk to the player. And if we need a bit of light relief, I'll bring you into the conversation."

Robbed of his huge cigar, he was much quieter and the deal was done fairly quickly.

The player, most importantly, was happy.

He knew, as all players did in those days, that he was joining a well-run club. He had obviously, as all players do, spoken to other players at the club beforehand.

I'm not sure, though, whether the modern day agent is as easy to handle. They are certainly an added pressure when it comes to managing a club.

In the old days there were four pressures on a manager - from players, the public, the press and the directors. Now agents are number five.

It's hard enough having to get results on Saturdays without other people crowding in on you from Monday to Friday.

That's why young managers need as much help as possible.