A FOOTBALL agent has won damages after missing out on a six-figure financial windfall when a player destined for Bolton Wanderers was "lured away" by a rival.

Tony McGill said he had a binding oral agreement with former England international Gavin McCann back in 2007 to exclusively represent the veteran midfielder.

But before he could secure a deal another agent — Sports and Entertainment Media Group (SEM) — arranged Mr McCann's switch from Aston Villa to the Whites.

As a result Mr McGill missed out of the £300,000 agent's fee Bolton paid to SEM and launched legal action in an attempt to recoup some of the cash.

He lost an earlier civil court case but on Friday won an overturn of that decision at the Court of Appeal.

Mr McGill said afterwards: "It has been a long road, mentally draining at times, frustrating and depressing.

"But if you stick at it and follow your beliefs with the hope things will turn your way.

"I am not bitter and will now continue to work within football and move on."

The Court of Appeal heard Mr McGill had lined up the paperwork for Mr McCann's £1million move from Aston Villa to Bolton in the summer of 2007.

Mr McGill claimed in court SEM "induced" the player away, took over the negotiations and finalised a deal with the Macron club on the same terms.

The Court of Appeal judgment said: "When SEM's Mr Sheron later lured the player away from Mr McGill, he was able to tempt the player with the prospect that, if he left Mr McGill, he would not find himself liable for any tax in relation to the transfer.

"I am satisfied that the judge erred in principle in holding that Mr McGill's case required proof that the player would have signed a written agreement by the end of the transfer process."

Mr McGill's claims of conspiracy to use unlawful means and inducing a breach of contract were upheld but a claim of unjust enrichment was dismissed.

In the judgment, they said: "Mr McGill is entitled to an award of damages on the basis of loss of the opportunity to earn a fee under a written agency agreement when the player's transfer to Bolton was completed."

The level of damages will now be determined by the original trial judge based on the likelihood, expressed as a percentage, that Mr McCann would have signed a written contract with Mr McGill along the same lines as the oral agreement.

In earlier civil actions, Mr McCann settled with Mr McGill for £50,000 in a 2007 legal claim lodged by the football agent.

A criminal prosecution against a number of defendants, including Mr McCann and Bolton Wanderers' late chairman Phil Gartside, were discontinued at Newcastle Crown Court last year.

Bolton Football Club chose not to comment on the development.