John Hyland allegedly blackmails Wayne Rooney's agent

[bennie]

A Liverpool boxing promoter has been charged with blackmail over threats to Everton and England star Wayne Rooney's agent. John Hyland, from Woolton, was charged by Cheshire Police after a two-month investigation.

There were Sunday newspaper reports at the start of July that threats had been made to the star and his agent Paul Stretford, demanding a cut of the money he was making from Rooney's career.

But a spokesman for Cheshire police emphasised that no threats against the star himself or his family were investigated.

Hyland, 41, has been bailed to appear at Runcorn Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.

His solicitor, Peter Quinn, said the promoter denied the charge.

He said: "Mr Hyland totally denies the allegation. He will be appearing in court next week and once the matter goes to the crown court he will be contesting all the allegations."

Mr Hyland, a double ABA champion and British title challenger in his fighting days, now promotes some of Liverpool's best boxers, including former British light welterweight champion Shea Neary and bantamweight champion Peter Culshaw.

The police spokesman said another man arrested in connection with the allegations of blackmail had been released without charge.

The 34-year-old from Spital, Wirral, has been released on police bail to attend at a police station at a later date.

Mr Stretford, who lives in Wilmslow, Cheshire, runs Proactive Sports Management, which has almost 400 players, managers and other personalities on its books.

Among those reported to be represented by the firm are Aston Villa goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen, Celtic midfielder Alan Thompson, Blackburn Rovers striker Andy Cole, Newcastle starlet Jermaine Jenas and Liverpool defender Sami Hyypia.

After the newspaper reports in July, Merseyside and Cheshire police assured Everton the striker was not in danger.

Everton's head of corporate affairs, Ian Ross, said the safety of the player - who is valued at about £20m - had not been put at risk.

He told the club's official website: "Obviously the claims being made are of a very serious nature.

"The safety of the club's players, staff and supporters is of paramount importance and is an issue which will never be the subject of compromise.

"We are happy to reiterate that we do not believe Wayne Rooney - or indeed any players - to be at risk."

[knockout artist]

I'm not surprised.

Somebody told me a long time ago that they saw John Hyland as an undesirable character. Allegedly, his after fight parties consist of whores and drugs.

[bennie]

He was a great amateur though. I well remember the right hook he finished Keith Ward with in the 1983 ABA final. Brother! That was beautiful. He won the ABA bantamweight title again in 1984 but had the misfortune to run into Korea's Sung-Kil Moon in the Los Angeles Olympics and was stopped in three. The bantamweight division in those games was dynamite. As well as Moon (who didn't even win a medal), there was Juan Molina, Hector Lopez, Maurizio Stecca and Pedro Decima. The eventual gold medallist was the brilliant Stecca.

[steve689]

All sounds a little fishy to me, Isn't Rooney good mates with a decent Liverpool amateur who recently turned pro? The name escapes me but the lad and Rooney were pictured together in the Daily Sport the other day.

[MightyWarrior]

He was a great amateur though. I well remember the right hook he finished Keith Ward with in the 1983 ABA final. Brother! That was beautiful. He won the ABA bantamweight title again in 1984 but had the misfortune to run into Korea's Sung-Kil Moon in the Los Angeles Olympics and was stopped in three. The bantamweight division in those games was dynamite. As well as Moon (who didn't even win a medal), there was Juan Molina, Hector Lopez, Maurizio Stecca and Pedro Decima. The eventual gold medallist was the brilliant Stecca.

He had a good start to his pro career I remember bennie, then got badly knocked out for a title, Brit I think.

Don't know what to make of this kidnap saga really, more of this story to come.
Remember his hyping of Matt Ellis when he started out? "The next billion dollar heavyweight.." Or something daft like that!!