Emiliano Sala tragedy shines light on Cardiff’s transfer dealings and Neil Warnock’s business with son James
Torch is being shone on Bluebirds because of the Argentine's move from Nantes
NEIL WARNOCK likes to keep it in the family.
In a notoriously cut-throat and grubby industry, he needed someone he could trust to get the deals done in Cardiff’s promotion season.
Enter his son, James Warnock.
Between February 1, 2017 and January 31, 2018, Unique Sports Management — the firm James works for — had a hand in six player transactions.
The torch is being shone on Cardiff because of the Emiliano Sala transfer from Nantes.
That tragedy, following the disappearance of the single-engine plane that was carrying Sala – and subsequent confirmation by police that they discovered his body – has brought the club’s transfer dealings into sharp focus.
It was James Warnock who brokered captain Sean Morrison’s three-year contract with Cardiff in summer 2017.
He was also used to negotiate the deal for forward Rhys Healey and brought in when Craig Noone’s contract with the Bluebirds was cancelled.
James was so busy in Wales he barely had any time to buy and sell or renegotiate deals with any other clubs.
One player he did not overlook was one of Neil’s old boys, Jamie Mackie, at his former club QPR.
James Warnock is named on the paperwork for the final year of Mackie’s QPR deal — before the 33-year-old striker joined Oxford last July.
It turned into quite a year for Unique Sports Management and some of their associates doing brisk business at Cardiff City Stadium.
Lee Peltier’s contract was handled by Will Salthouse, one of the directors at USM. Striker Lee Tomlin’s move from Bristol City was handled by another USM employee — former Rochdale forward Clive Platt.
Last January, when Cardiff needed the final push for promotion to the Premier League, another significant USM employee helped to get a deal for Yanic Wildschut across the line.
Wildschut was at Norwich and Barry Whelan — acting for SEG Football alongside another agent — was used to secure the winger’s loan until the end of the season.
Most likely to avoid allegations of potential nepotism when Warnock was boss of Crystal Palace, Salthouse went on record to say James Warnock would not be allowed to be involved in any deals at Selhurst Park.
That stance has since changed now that Neil Warnock is Cardiff manager.
There is no suggestion of anything improper and each deal had to be signed off by Bluebirds chief executive Ken Choo, chairman Mehmet Dalman and, ultimately, owner Vincent Tan.
Cardiff spent £2.03million on agents’ fees getting promoted last season — only the ninth highest in the division.
If those sums seem ordinary, they must be put in the context alongside some of the clubs recently relegated from the Premier League.
Aston Villa (£5.5m) and Sunderland (£4.37m) were still feeling the pinch after handing out massive salaries to players when they were still in the top flight.
Warnock, unquestionably, knows how to work the transfer market.
In a sport full of weasels and sharks, Cardiff’s manager likes to rely on a few close friends to do an honest day’s work.
It is why he turned to Willie McKay to bring in the Nantes striker Sala in the January transfer window. The McKay family were all over Cardiff when son Mark brought in Sol Bamba via his firm ExCel Foot.
Soon after, Warnock saw something in young Jack McKay — Willie’s son — as one for the future.
The McKay family were used to bring in Sala, who scored 12 goals in his 19 Ligue 1 games this season.
Given his close personal relationship with Warnock it seems odd that McKay used the media to help inflate the transfer fee — by claiming Everton and West Ham were interested when they weren’t — rather than doing his pal a favour by getting it discounted.
Cardiff ended up agreeing to pay £15m for Sala, which will be declared when the FA publish agents’ fees and transactions in early April.
It is then that the full extent of the influence of McKay and USM at Cardiff in their first season back in the top flight will be known.
USM are likely to feature as it is understood they were brought in to complete the deal for Reading winger Leandro Bacuna on deadline day last Thursday.
Cardiff appear to be comfortable with this legitimate but cosy relationship, happy for manager and son to do business together.
USM have done very well out of Warnock since he moved to Cardiff — increasing their influence around the club after convincing a number of players to sign for them.
Sunday lunch by the roaring fire down at Warnock’s sprawling gaff in Cornwall must make for some fascinating conversation.
OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER is increasingly playing the part of a Manchester United manager.
Nine wins and a draw in his ten games have given the interim boss the confidence to carry it off while United’s bigwigs fret over the final decision.
Solskjaer’s scouting trip to Paris Saint-Germain last weekend, followed by a black-tie appearance at Vincent Kompany’s charity bash on Monday, is part of the manager’s work at Old Trafford.
Solskjaer, operating with a rarefied air this week, clearly thinks that he can get it.
EDEN HAZARD has done his bit for Chelsea. If he wants to quit for Real Madrid, then he should go with the club’s blessing.
Watching the Belgian for the last seven years has been a welcome distraction from the endless plot-lines at Stamford Bridge.
THE FA’S independent regulatory commission did not spare Wilfried Zaha yesterday.
Crystal Palace’s winger will serve an extra game ban after being hit with an improper conduct charge following his red card at Southampton last month.
Zaha showed contrition for sarcastically applauding ref Andre Marriner by attending his hearing with boss Roy Hodgson to plead his case.
He can play against West Ham tomorrow, though, because he is appealing the decision.
Zaha missed last week’s game with Fulham but it does seem unnecessary to make him sit out another.
LIVERPOOL boss Jurgen Klopp’s behaviour on the touchline drives pretty much every other manager potty.
The jolly giant is well known down there for bad-mouthing the opposition during games but he overstepped the mark at West Ham on Monday.
Klopp, on a warning from the FA for running on to the Anfield pitch to celebrate Divock Origi’s 96th-minute Merseyside derby winner against Everton in December, is under scrutiny now.