Exclusive: Wayne Rooney's agent investigated for secretly paying Derby County wages

Wayne Rooney's long-term agent is under investigation by the Football Association for secretly paying staff and player wages at Derby County, Telegraph Sport can reveal.

A cheque worth around £1.6million was allegedly handed over to cover salaries in May in an attempt to help the American businessman Chris Kirchner get his failed takeover on track.

As part of his deal to run the club, Kirchner is understood to have initially promised to cover player and staff wages after the first week of May. Stretford is believed to have covered the bill towards the end of the month, however, when the takeover first ran into serious problems.

Paul Stretford, one of the most influential representatives in the domestic game, is now cooperating with an FA investigation into claims his intervention may have breached agent regulations.

The governing body is understood to be exploring potential conflict of interest issues, given his close ties with former England captain Rooney, who was at the time Derby manager.

If found to have contravened the rules by the FA, Stretford faces a fine, or even having his licence suspended. The investigation will also prompt questions around Stretford's working relationship with Kirchner. The pair were also said to have been close associates during the American's failed attempt to buy Preston North End.

Stretford, 63, who also represents Manchester United's Harry Maguire, is understood to have confirmed to the FA that he made the payment to keep the club going in May. Friends of the agent say he was acting in the best interests of the stricken club by handing over the funds. Staff wages had gone unpaid for around a month twice during Mel Morris' troubled stewardship.

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