Agents & Contracts

Chris Thair

RFL Salary Cap and Licencing Manager

Feb 2009 England U16 SquadJoseph Bate Kristian Bell Mike Bishay Daniel Bridge Gregory Burke Ben Crooks

Alex Davidson Sam Fletcher Keith Holden Daniel Jones Joshua Jones Viny Kakopa

Darren Lamb Reece Lyne Ryan Shaw

Louis Sheriff Brad Singleton Jared Stewart Francis Welsh

IT DOESN’T HAPPEN STRAIGHT AWAY

FulltimeContract

110 Signed in 2011 (1 FT)70-80 in 2012?

Declaration of Interest• Must finish Community Game Commitments• A player may get 0 to 5 interested parties • RFL send letter early August & Include Proforma

2 Months

• September Contract Offer: 27 Months

• 30th November 2014 End Date

• U18s U19s Academy

• Minimum Contract Value (TBC)

Don’t Try to Remember Everything

• You will receive lots of talks

• Professional Player Induction in Year 1

• Player Welfare is a Priority in all Youth Programmes

Contracts – Discretion

• How Much? Is that important?

• Individual and Club Dependant

• You are still unproven

• Lots of things to consider

What is a Contract

• It is a Contract of Employment

• A legally binding agreement which describes how the relationship will work within the framework of employment law

• Parents will see it

Standard Forms

• They are all the same

• In the relevant boxes you just put different – Names and Addresses – Start & Finish Dates – Payment Details – Additional RFL Clauses if Required

Standard Headings

• Place and Hours of Work

• Remuneration • Regulation Compliance (Anti Doping / Betting)

• Television & Photography

• Injury and illness

• Disciplinary Procedures

• Gross Misconduct

£5k on England Debut

£5k after 10 Super League Games

Agents

Agents • Take them or leave them

• Must be Authorised Agents

• Everything is online • www.therfl.co.uk/operational_rules/authorised_agents

• 19 Official UK Agents

Impact Sports Consultancy Martin Shuttleworth

Howes Etc. David Howes

Show Me the Money Craig Harrison

Elite Star Management Richard Kramer

Football First Martin Offiah

Mum and Dad

Pro’s – Agent

1. Understands the Market knows your worth

2. Established Network in the Clubs.

3. Experienced Contract Negotiator.

4. Can Help Maximise Commercial Potential

5. Access to Services: Financial, Legal, Insurance

6. Moral Support

7. Help with Exit Strategy

8. Maximise Your Earning Potential

Cons – Agents

1. Shop Around and you will find your value (different value to different clubs)

2. Clubs will approach you

3. You have no commercial value at present

4. Club will help with Service Provision and have a welfare programme

5. Moral Support?

6. It Costs Money (Balanced Against What they make you in return). Salary Cap Sport

Fees

• Free at First or flat fee under £10k

• 5% of any earnings from the club

• 25% of any earnings received through commercial, marketing or media deals.

• Take from Net Pay

Paperwork

• Representation Agreement. Max 2 Yrs (1 for U18s). Contract Still Applicable. Change in last month or when have written permission. U18s must have parent counter signature.

• “Registered Close Relation Declaration”

• Free and Into RFL within 7 days

Parents

• Speak to People

• Ask Questions

• Meet people 1 to 1 (PPMs and HOY)

• Trust

Thank You For Listening

Questions?

Chris Thair