THE agent who completed the controversial transfer of Gavin McCann to Bolton Wanderers has denied hijacking a rival agent’s deal.

Jeffrey Weston had previously represented Mr McCann from 1998 to 2003 but signed transfer papers as Bolton’s representative for the £1 million signing in 2007.

Mr Weston is a former employee of The Sport and Entertainment Media Group (SEM), the firm being sued alongside Wanderers and chairman Phil Gartside for allegedly cutting agent Tony McGill out of the deal.

Martin Budworth, Mr McGill’s counsel, quizzed Mr Weston over how transfer papers were backdated and whether he had been guilty of “switching” — representing the club while actually being the player’s agent.

Mr Weston told the High Court, sitting at Manchester Civil Justice Centre, that he was Mr McCann’s agent when he moved to Sunderland in 1998 — but when the player moved to Aston Villa in 2003, Mr Weston was the club’s representative on paperwork.

Mr Budworth said: “It is a clear example of a switch is it not?” Mr Weston denied this.

The court also heard how Mr Weston filled the dates and his own signature onto one version of a backsheet of McCann’s paperwork for the Bolton deal — which Mr Gartside had already signed.

Mr Weston admitted it was his handwriting but denied backdating the paper.

Mr Budworth asked: “Did you make a mistake and write eight and then went back to correct it?”

Mr Weston said he could not remember. He said he also could not recall when in 2003 he stopped being Mr McCann’s agent.

The case continues.