Former Hammers agent exposed by Panorama

A football agent allegedly broke the rules by signing underage players, according to a BBC television programme.

The Panorama programme being screened last night shows a series of leaked emails and messages which appear to show Aidy Ward  tried to build his business by signing young players.

English FA rules prohibit agents from approaching the families of players until they reach the age of 16.

The programme claims England international Raheem Sterling was asked by Ward, when he was his agent, to make a video call to a 15-year-old player allegedly in order to attract him to sign. Ward is also the agent for Arsenal’s Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Liverpool’s Alex Oxade-Chamberlain.

The Times revealed in March that Ward is under investigation by the FA for allegedly paying the parent of an England youth player £10,000 to join his Colossal Sports Management agency before the permitted age.

Ward has presented a number of  former West Ham youngsters in his time including Reece Oxford and  Benicio Baker-Boaiteys both of whom left the Hammers for next to nothing.