Blair's son to become a football agent

Famous name may open doors for him in murky world of player representation, experts say

Nicky Blair, the son of the former prime minister, is to open his own football agency. The Oxford-educated school teacher has decided on a change of career, starting up a company with a university friend.

Mr Blair already runs a computer gaming business with his housemate, 22-year-old Gabriel Moraes. Now the pair have reportedly set themselves up as football agents. However, they are not understood to have any players on their books yet.

Agents represent footballers' interests and can make a lot of money out of conducting transfers, as well as other deals for their clients. Many sign up hot young prospects from South America and Africa, handling their careers off the field.

Mark Steele, an agent with Agent Energetics, dismissed suggestions that Mr Blair, at 23 years old, would find it difficult to make a success of his new career. "He is from a famous background so that may open up some doors for him. But it is a free country, so good luck to him and we will see how he gets on," he said. "I would just like to wish him luck," added another agent, Willie McKay.

Nicky Blair became a teacher two years ago. He was recruited by Teach First, a charity backed by 40 leading firms which sends top graduates to teach in struggling schools before many of them move on to jobs in the City.

Teach First claims that it expects many of its participants to become "the future ministers, chief executives and entrepreneurs of our age". Through spending two years in a classroom, the scheme hopes graduates will learn leadership skills which they can later transfer to the business sector, if they decide not to take up teaching. Mr Blair has been working in a West Midlands school where he earned £17,800, rising to £22,000 in his second year.

The Blairs' second son was also thought to harbour ambitions of a political career. But he opted not to follow in his father's footsteps and now looks destined for the glitzy and often murky world of the football agent.

Recently, agents have been involved in a number of controversies. Kia Joobrachian was criticised for his part in the transfer of Carlos Tevez to West Ham, a signing which eventually led to an acrimonious court case with Sheffield United. Willie McKay was arrested and eventually cleared of corruption after an 18-month police investigation into his dealings.

In 2004, Manchester United were forced to sever ties with the Elite Sports Group transfer agency, run by Jason Ferguson, son of the club's manager Sir Alex, over alleged conflict of interest in transfer dealings.

Mr Blair and his mother, Cherie, who is also named as a director in her son's other company, Magnitude Gaming, have reportedly been excitedly telling friends about the new venture.

"Nicky is discussing setting up a company to trade in footballers," a friend of Mr Blair said. "He and Gabriel have got the structure of the company but so far they haven't got any footballers on their books."

The Manchester United fan has a history of striking out on his own, his father follows Newcastle United, while his brother, Euan, who was arrested for being drunk in Leicester Square at the age of 16, supports Liverpool.

A spokesman for the Blairs was not available for comment yesterday.