LIAR

Wayne Rooney's agent, Paul Stretford, could face perjury charges after the case against three men accused of blackmailing him collapsed following evidence that Mr Stretford had lied in court.John Hyland, a boxing promoter, and brothers Christopher and Anthony Bacon, had been accused of trying to intimidate Mr Stretford, one of the game's leading agents, in a long-running and bitter battle for Rooney's signature .

Warrington crown court heard evidence that Mr Hyland and the Bacon brothers, associates of Rooney's original agent, Peter McIntosh, had tried to intimidate Mr Stretford into handing over 50% of the profits arising from Rooney's contract. But the case was dropped after it became clear that Mr Stretford had made false statements while giving evidence last week.

Mr Stretford, whose Formation Group (formerly Proactive Sports Management) is set to receive £1.5m from Rooney's recent transfer from Everton to Manchester United, told the court that he had not represented the player before December 2002, when Rooney's contract with Mr McIntosh expired.

But documents disclosed over the weekend revealed he was representing the player as early as September 2002. Prosecution barrister John Hedgecoe said: "Having seen those documents, in particular that one dated September 19 [2002], we do not feel able to rely on Paul Stretford as a witness in this case.

"In view of his importance as a witness to the way in which we have put this case from the outset, we have decided that the only appropriate course is to offer no further evidence."

Judge David Hale passed not-guilty verdicts on all three men.