| Steller Group Limited The Steller Group Limited The Steller Group Limited is a European sports managment consultancy which provides professional sportsmen and women with a full range of services to ensure that their interests are wholeheartedly and efficiently respresented, leaving them to concentrate solely on their sport. The Company was established in 1994 by Jonathan Barnett and David Manasseh, since which time it has grown to become one of the leading football agencies in the United Kingdom. With some 300 professional sportsmen from different sports on their books, football represents the core business for the Company. Soon after its establishment Johnny Whitmore joined Stellar to deal with the marketing requirements of the players. The Company now has office in Italy, Holland, Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey, South Africa, Scotland and Canada as well as London. All agents are fully licensed for domestic and International transfers. Stellar Europe Stellar Europe is fronted by ex-professional footballer John Inglis whose former clubs include Aberdeen FC and Levski Sofia. John has a roaming role within the group being in charge of a large number of European scouts and respresentatives who watch all the major leagues around Europe in which Stellar players are involved. Furthermore, whenever our younger players travel abroad with their various respresentative countries it will often by John that is at these games. This means if there ever is a problem, there is always a representative from Stellar available to help. John Inglis is based in Bulgaria where he co-manages the office with former Bulgarian World Cup Star Tzanko Tzvetanov. The Greek office is managed by ex-Panathinaikos goalkeeper Thomas Laftsis, while the Italian office is run by Nicola Caricola who played for Juventus and Massimo Mauro who represented both AS Roma and Napoli All of Stellar's continetal agents are fluent in a number of languages including English, Italian, French, Spanish, Dutch, Russian, German, Bulgarian, Greek and Turkish. Youth Division In 2001, Stellar established a separate youth division in order to target the best young players at U17 and U19 levels. Many of the players that Stellar has targeted have gone on to represent their various national sides at all age groups, and in the case of Ashley Cole the full National side. It is in Asheley that the Stellar ethos is most easily identified. Signed at 16 years old, Ashley has had the benefits of a company structure behind him from day one of his professional career, which began within days of him turning 17, a direct result of good advice from Stellar. At Stellar, we understand and appreciate how important and how difficult it can be for young footballers to get the right sports and product endorsement deals. In many cases, provide the players have continued to develop Stellar has been able to procure lucrative sponsorships with both major football brands, Nike and Adidas, as well as with major clothing labels from Gucci to Tommy Hilfiger all tailored to the individuals needs and desires. This is the Stellar ethos: Off the field harmony equals on the field excellence. The youth division is managed by Jonathan Cohen and Joe Sealey (son of the late Les Sealey) both of whom have come from different backgrounds to form a sensible forward thinking unit. Jonathan has worked in management for the last three years and has looked after young professionals and their interests during this time, he is also fully licensed while Joe used to play professional football for West Ham United and understands better than most the pressures that are associated with a young professionals chosen career. Jonathan and Joe are contacts for all of Stellars young players and look after all of their day to day needs including television work and personal appearances. Managment Football has grown into a vast global business over recent years, and the ever-increasing sums of money that are invested in the game by commercial enterprises ensure that the rewards for players are continually rising. A professional footballer has only a few years in whish to maximise his income, not just hrough earning wages from his club but also from investing wisely during this period. Hence, it is very important for all players to have a good off-field management team behind them, someone in whom they can put their trust and upon whom they can rely so that they can channel all their energy into training and playing. In terms of management, Stellar provide a comprehensive package to all their clients. This includes negotiating playing contracts and transfers; obtaining sponsorship, endorsement and promotional work; providing legal advice where appropriate; arranging mortgages and insurance; and overseeing all financial affairs such as accountancy and taxation. Football Club Contracts All players retain their right to seek advice when offered a club contract, and the importance of taking this advice cannot be over-emphasised. Players have different requirements at different times of their careers adn each contract, whether it is a first, or a renewal, is negotiated to take into account the players personal circumstances. At Stellar, we have years of experience at dealing with the clubs and are able to secrue the best possible terms for each client at any given time. Furthermore, Stellar operate worldwide and have great experience in dealing overseas as well as the United Kingdom. Transfers Transfers play a major role in the career of a professional footballer, and must be dealt with very carefully. There are any implications to take into accoutn, both financial and professional, and id done wrong they can have a major effect on a players career. The players welfare is the most important factor to consider, and Stellars only concern lies with the interests of the player and his future. Transfers split into three distinct domestic categories. Premier to Premier The countries best players transfer domestically solely between the Premier League clubs. Stellar has had vast experience with players in this bracket. Most recently Richard Wright's transfer from Ipswich to Arsenal. This transfer perfectly highlights the complexities of these high calibre transfers. To make sure that all dealings with the clubs, the media and the fans are handled in the correct and professional manner, to maximise earnings and maintain profile, requires a slick management structure and an efficient team, all of which Stellar provides. Other examples include Jon Harley from Chelsea to Fulhan, so that regardless of position, ability is always rewarded. First/Second Division to the Premier League A young talented player from the lower divisions will at some stage require a move up divisions, into a higher profile club. Stellar has had vast experience in taking lower league players and helping them to fulfill their potential within the higher divisions. Examples include Rory Delap from Carlisle to Derby and then to Southampton, Shaka Hislop from Reading to Newcastle and then to West Ham. As well as the actual transfer, the Stellar team are able to properly manage and co-ordinate all of the other changes in a young players life that come as a part of their increased status. From moving house to increased media work, from new sponsorship agreements to Internet sites Stellar and the team are able to handle almost anything. Lower Division Moves In the modern career of the professional footballer there may be times when things are not progressing at the place of work that he finds himself. It is at this time that the management structure is best suited to help. Whether it be to go on loan, or to change clubs completely, with the vast network structure that Stellar has these moves can facilitated quickly and efficiently. Examples of a loan that has helped the player fulfill his potential include Ashley Cole from Arsenal to Crystal Palace and of a move inlclude Paulo Vernazza from Arsental to Watford. In all cases moves are done with the minimum amount of effort on the players part, and are often the result of a lot of hard work and effort to make sure that the move or loan is the right one for the player concerned and at the right time. Sponsorship Off the pitch earnings provide valuable additional income for most players and it is important that this is properly managed so as to maximise the return. Endorsements, sponsorship and promotional work are all areas in which Stellar seek to provide the player with extra earning potential, and, where possible, each player will be involved in these. Knowing both how and when to heighten a players profile is a skilled business and must be dealt with carefully. Inappropriate advice can ruin a players profile, both within his club and public eye, and this can lead to problems on and off the pitch. Stellar work very closely with all well-known sports sponsors and all forms of media, and these relationships prove to be invaluable with the promotion of our players. Legal Advice Stellar has an association with vaious top law firms in the city of London in order to offer their clients the best legal advice where necessary. Such companies are able to offer our clients advice in all area such as litigation, as well as advice on general family matters and intellectual property rights; i.e. copyrights, trademarks, taxation issues. Recently, a client of Stellar successfully won a court case and received almost 1 million pounds compensation for a career threatening injury. Mortgages Nearly each player will buy a property during his career, and very often he will buy more than one. Not only does it represent a very good way of investing money, but it provides security for hime and his family. Stellar has the facility of a mortgage expert who has negotiated in excess of 100 mortgages for our clients alone, and in every case the client has saved money on the property when making hte purchase and made money on the sale. His nationwide knowledge of the property market is second to none. Insurance In the light of recent injuries to a few players, football insurance has become a big business. Traditionally, players were only insured for the benefit of their club; however, it is now essential that a player is insured himself against a career ending injury, otherwise known as a permanent disability. At Stellar, we will ensure that a player gets himself insured from the beginning of each season to cover any loss of earnings through temporary or permanent injury. Accountancy and Taxation While club salaries are paid direct to the players bank accounts all commercial income is paid direct to a player. Stellar, who has an in-house finance director in Peter Lazard and also has the facility of several major accountancy firms, ensures that a player registers his own company for tax purposes so that all of his tax affairs can be dealt with both effectively and efficiently so as to iminimise ones personal liability. Finacial Planning A footballers career is a short one, and the sums that can be earned today during that period require that a player must plan for retirement if he is to maintain the same living standards that he enjoyed while playing. Stellar will assist in planning for your future by organizing your affairs so as to both create and protect your wealth and to ensure a bright and happy future for you and your family. We will oversee the planning of your investments, your personal pension, and your insurance requirements, both for sporting purposes and for mortgage payments, etc. Other Divisions of Stellar Football aside, Stellar represents a number of sportsmen in various other fields including golf, cricket, athletics, rugby, tennis and horse racing. In golf we represent 15 players on the European Tour including Greg Owen and John Bickerton. Top cricketers include Courtney Walsh and Shivnarine Chanderpaul of the West Indies, Waqar Younis of Pakistan, and Nick Knight of England. Our Rugby clients include Austin Healey of the British Lions, Leicester & England and Sean Long of St. Helens & England. Our athletics department is headed by ex-Olympic, World, Commonwealth and European star of track and field John Regis MBE and includes British and Commonwealth Champions Dwain Chambers, Tony Jarrett, Julian Golding and Malon Devonish. We also represent three-time Champion Jockey Kieren Fallon as well as highly rated up and coming flat jockey Jaime Spencer. Finally Stellar looks after a number of television presenters such as ITB's Carrie Frais, Marcus Buckland and Sky Sports, Alex Hammond from the world of horse racing and John Regis MBE who regularly introduces and commentates for the BBC as well as on athletics for Grandstand. |