Gangster Invited to Talks on Rooney, Court Told

Kenny Dalglish invited a notorious gangster to a meeting to thrash out which agent should represent the England striker Wayne Rooney, a court heard yesterday.

The meeting, at a hotel near Heathrow airport in November 2002, was attended by Rooney's current agent, Paul Stretford; his former agent, Peter McIntosh; John Hyland, a Liverpool boxing promoter; Dalglish and Tommy Adams, a London criminal, among others.

Dalglish was a longstanding friend of Mr Stretford's and a major shareholder in his company Proactive.

Mr Hyland, 41, is on trial at Warrington crown court, accused of blackmail by demanding money with menaces. Brothers Anthony Bacon, 38, and Christopher Bacon, 34, also deny the charge.

Earlier this week, the jury heard evidence from Mr Stretford, 46, that he had felt intimidated at the meeting. He did not expect to see Mr Adams and knew of his reputation as a "London villain".

During cross-examination yesterday, Mr Hyland's barrister, Lord Carlisle, said Dalglish had invited Mr Adams. He said: "You felt let down by him [Dalglish] because he arranged to bring to the meeting a notorious gangster who had recently finished a sentence of seven-and-a-half years' imprisonment for importing cannabis, and who takes an interest in sport."

Mr Hyland and others became angry that Mr Stretford would not agree to a deal on their terms.

Lord Carlisle told the jury that the police had asked Dalglish to provide a statement about the meeting and he had refused.

He asked Mr Stretford: "Do you feel let down by him?" "Of course," replied Mr Stretford.

Lord Carlisle also questioned Mr Stretford on the transfer of Rooney from Everton to Manchester United, a deal which made Proactive a potential £1.5m. He asked if the £20m bid from Newcastle was used to inflate the price.

Mr Stretford said: "I don't think anyone makes a bid of £20m to another club if they don't mean it. We were very prepared for the Newcastle bid to be accepted and for Wayne to negotiate with Newcastle United."

The jury was shown a video of another meeting, in June 2003, when Mr Hyland and the Bacon brothers burst into a hotel room and allegedly tried to force Mr Stretford to sign a contract which would pay Mr Hyland half of the agent's earnings over the next decade.

The trial continues.