Rooney agent to rescue (From Warrington Guardian)

Rooney agent to rescue

11:59am Thursday 23rd August 2012 in Football

WAYNE Rooney’s agent is back on old turf to help rejuvenate Rylands Football Club.

Paul Stretford is backing his former team with equipment and funding, while there are long-term plans being shaped too.

It is music to the ears of Ian Finchett, who has been involved with the club for more than 40 years as player, manager, committee member and currently chairman.

After seeing the former Cheshire League champions, who’s second game in their Division One campaign was a 1-1 draw against Crewe on Saturday, slip behind town rivals Eagle Sports, Grappenhall Sports and Greenalls Padgate St Oswalds, Finchett is confident that the future of the Gorsey Lane club is on the up.

He said: “At times last season I honestly wondered if we had reached the end of the road, but a chance meeting with Paul changed all that and I honestly feel that the future for the club is both secure and hopefully very bright.”

Stretford, the managing director of Triple S Sports and Entertainment Group and agent/business manager to Manchester United and England striker Rooney, explained his decision to become involved.

“When I played for the club we were one of the most difficult teams to play against and enjoyed a lot of success,” he said.

“Unfortunately that foundation has not been built upon and without the dedication of Ian and others it is probably true to say that the club would probably not still be here.

“Our company is involved at the highest level of professional sport and is based in Lymm. We have been looking for some time to find a grass roots project we could get behind and help develop further.

“With my personal knowledge of Rylands Football Club I feel this is a project we can help to succeed in our local area.

“In the first instance we have supplied equipment and funds to enable the first team and reserves to compete in their respective leagues, but, in the long run we want to help develop the club to provide youth and junior football and also develop the facilities to at least North West Counties standard.”

Former Warrington Town Reserves and Middlewich manager Dave Parr was recruited in the summer to take charge of a virtually new team that he has assembled along with right-hand man Paul Anderson.

He is enthused about the club’s prospects.

“Having discussed the long term objectives with Paul Stretford, it is a very exciting and bold plan but also a very structured and realistic project which will benefit not only the club but the local community as well as it develops.

“I am experienced enough to know that there is a massive job to do off the field, and we have started to build virtually a new squad from scratch which will obviously take time to gel and progress to play the style of football that I am looking to implement here.

“However, the incentive to progress has been clearly outlined by Paul and we are all determined to take the opportunity during the course of the next few seasons to do just that.”