NEWS OF THE WORLD VAULT

REWIND back to March, 1997, and Jerry Maguire is big Box Office news in the United Kingdom.

Tom Cruise's fast-talking sports agent captured the imagination and spawned a number of catchphrases that have entered the public lexicon.

Graham Johnson of the News of the World decided to interview English football agents about Jerry Maguire and assess how close to the bone the movie really was.

The agents were happy to reveal just how cut-throat the business can be at times.

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FILM idol Tom Cruise has captured the hearts of millions as a tough sports agent who refuses to play dirty in hit film Jerry Maguire.

But how would Jerry fare against REAL opposition? At the News of the World we've come up against a few agents in our time-the men who handle the business affairs of their stars-and 'softy' isn't a word that springs easily to mind.

Britain's toughest agent, Eric Hall, chomped on his cigar and growled: "Jerry Maguire? He's a born loser. I'm a winner...but he's better looking."

Hall, 58, earns around £300,000 a year-mainly from a cut of the deals he makes. His stars include Chelsea footballer Dennis Wise.

"I'm a one-man band just like Maguire," Hall said. "No, I'm better than that, I'm a one-man orchestra.

"When I nick clients from other agents I use a trick I learned off Lew Grade. If I see a footballer I want I ask, 'Have you got an agent?'

Hustle

"He always says 'yes' and I ask who it is. Then I say, 'I know that agent, he's bloody sensational. Great'.

"And he always replies, 'Come on, Eric, he's not that good.' See? I let them do the hustling. It's worked quite a few times with some very big names. There's no remorse."

But the business isn't all just about money.

Rival agent Phil Graham's stable includes Spurs' Chris Armstrong, keeper Nigel Martyn and Chelsea defender Michael Duberry. And while they are no problem, others are.

"These lads are mid-20s, loadsamoney, adulation on tap and Page Three beauties tripping over them," he said.

"That means they've got big problems.

"And when that happens they turn to me for help. I've got to get them off the hook. I'm not their wife so they can confide in me."

Dave Davies, at 36 the youngest FIFA agent in the UK, 'looks after' the old greats from England's 1966 World Cup squad.

He revealed: "Legends like Hurst, Peters and Stiles are hot commodities.

"When my clients do personal appearances, jealous agents phone up the venues beforehand, pretend to be me and cancel.

"Or worse, they call the lads direct and arrange a meet at a service station an hour before. They say the appointment is off, pay them pretend expenses and tell them not to turn up.

"I get blamed and the agent tries to move in for the kill. They're rats." One of the biggest rats is Ambrose Mendy.

Despite having world champion boxer Nigel Benn and soccer hero Paul Ince on his books, Mendy turned to fraud.

Last year he was jailed for seven years after masterminding a plot to swindle banks and city firms out of £4 million.

Snooker

On the other hand, manager Barry Hearn, 48, has a reputation for playing it straight with clients such as snooker's Steve Davis and Ronnie O'Sullivan.

"Treat people right and they'll treat you right," he said. "Boxers can be difficult. It's no surprise they want to maximise earnings in the limited time they've got. So they're tempted to change managers at the drop of a hat in search of a quick kill. But it doesn't work in the long run."

Then there's Mel Stein- the man with the 24-hour job of looking after Gazza.

"Every time something happens in Paul's life we think this is the end," said Stein, 51. "But so far it hasn't been.

"And like Jerry Maguire you do live the life of your star. Paul and his family have become close friends.

"Paul is incredibly loyal. He tells me when other agents sniff around and they get egg on their faces.

"I wouldn't swap being an agent."

MEL STEIN

BACKGROUND: Eastender, now lives in North London. Read law at King's College, London

PERCENTAGE: Takes about 7% on transfer deals. Charges Pounds 250 per hour consultation fees.

STARS HANDLED:Gazza. (Formerly Chris Waddle and Alan Shearer)

BIGGEST DEAL: £5.5 million transfer of Gazza to Lazio, Italy in 1992.

BARRY HEARN

BACKGROUND:Son of Dagenham bus driver. Trained as accountant

PERCENTAGE:Up to 25% of boxer's purse.

STARS HANDLED:Snooker's O'Sullivan, Davis, White, Hendry and Parrott. (Formerly boxer Chris Eubank)

BIGGEST DEAL: £10million Eight-fight deal with Sky TV.

DAVE DAVIES

BACKGROUND:Deans Comprehensive School, Benfleet, Essex

PERCENTAGE:5-15% depending on deal.

STARS HANDLED:The 1966 England World Cup squad.

BIGGEST DEAL: £100,000 media deal for Geoff Hurst.

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