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Of all the people that have come to encircle modern football in recent years, few have received the levels of vituperation that players' agents have. It often feels as if nothing good comes from their involvement in the game, but this hasn't stopped their influence expanding dramatically in recent years and it seems more likely than not that this sphere of influence will continue to grow as contractual matters between players and clubs become more and more complex.

That may very well be too loaded a question to ask, or perhaps it is being asked in ignorance given recent fan violence between Lions and QPR supporters, but in the interests of venturing forth from conventional stereotypes, it is a matter worth exploring at least superficially. This query originates from watching the recent match between Millwall and Preston North End at the New Den and observing those featured in the stands.

It was in March 1983 that I first went to Kenilworth Road. Parents of the children junior school that I had starting attending had recently knitted what they believed to be the world's longest ever football scarf and we were invited to show it off on the pitch before Luton's First Division match against West Bromwich Albion, which then featured on Anglia Television's "Match Of The Week" (from which this weekly article takes its name) that evening.

Earlier this week saw the twentieth anniversary of Yeovil Town's move from The Huish, their famously sloping home since 1928, to the brand new Huish Park stadium. In the intervening two decades much has changed and, for Yeovil Town, this has meant moving into the Football League and establishing themselves in League One.

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew' has urged Liverpool Boss Rodgers to be more flexible with their asking price for Andy Carroll and warned Liverpool FC they will need to take a big financial hit if they want to sell the 23-year old.

He told BBC Radio Newcastle: "[Reading chairman] John Madejski used to say to me about certain players, just wipe your nose and move on.

After weeks of speculation, Manchester United have confirmed the signing of Crewe Alexandra teen, Nick Powell.

"We have scouted Nick for months now. He is an exceptional talent and has been schooled well at Crewe," said Ferguson. "I'm delighted he has chosen to come to United. He has a lot to offer and we are all looking forward to working with him.

Liverpool FC's owner and chairman, John W Henry and Tom Werner, have today admitted that they didn't know anything about the Merseyside club before taking over, although they knew about United.

"Very little," replied Henry when asked of his knowledge of the Premier League. "We knew virtually nothing about Liverpool Football Club nor EPL.

By JOHN BOSCHINI

What's the cost of cursing into a camera? Two games, as it turns out, even if your name is Wayne Rooney.

The English FA upheld Rooney's two-game suspension after the Manchester United striker directed profanities at an on-field camera in United's 4-2 defeat of West Ham on Saturday.

Liverpool fans tend to lump together the disasters of Hillsborough and Heysel. Whilst I've never sung a Hillsborough song in my life, I see Heysel as fair game. The actions of Liverpool fans lead to the deaths of 39 people, yet after the tragedy, their club washed their hands of the disaster.

They blamed Chelsea fans and didn't appologise for what happened until 20 years later.

Mansfield Town have a new CEO, a 29-year-old who has a politics degree and has previously worked for some big fashion brands. Succeeding Steve Barker, the previous CEO, who has now moved on to a new role with Stags chairman John Radford's company, the new appointee is keen to start working with local businesses, increase gates, work with the fans you know, the usual stuff.

Stags chairman John Radford has announced his four-man shortlist for the vacant managerial role at Mansfield Town, as the ground staff at Field Mill battle to be ready for the weekend game with Barrow.

 Current caretaker manager Duncan Russell is among the final four but Radford has been playing his cards close to his chest regarding the other three candidates.

One emerging problem with the "benefactor model" of club ownership is "what happens next?" Blackburn Rovers have struggled with this problem since their 1990s benefactor, steel magnate Jack Walker, died in 2000. And current owners Venky's are not, yet anyway, the solution. Walker, who famously took Rovers to/bought the 1995 Premier League title, made some post-benefactor plans, forming the "Jack Walker Settlement" (JWS), a trust based in the Jersey tax haven, where he lived from 1974, when his riches attracted taxes which the great benefactor was.

As you may already know, I was born and bred in Blackburn, Lancashire, so the Rovers are my team. Because I live in California I rarely get to see them play live, but I follow them everyday on the internet and Fox Soccer Channel.

I am dazed and confused with the happenings at Ewood Park.

Firstly, I cannot beleive the club was sold for only $45million.

The club from Lancashire appears set to be taken over by new owners. The new owners are an Indian group, called Venky's, which is traditionally connected with pharmaceuticals and poultry. The Venky's group has a £1 billion turnover and last reported a £118 million profit, for the financial year 2009/2010.

UPDATE: According to Sky Sports News, Blackburn did not sign Ivelin Popov because they were unable to sell Jason Roberts to generate funds. Chairman John Williams said,

"We were expecting a bid for Jason Roberts .

UPDATE: According to Sky Sports News, Blackburn are in "tentative negotiations" with Litex Lovech for striker Ivelin Popov. Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce said,

"We had a little look at him and we are in tentative negotiations .

Blackburn may have beaten Everton 1-0 last weekend, but Big Sam wants more goals out of his squad. His newest attempt at adding to his squad up front is Benjani.

The 32-year-old striker has been on trial with Blackburn in an attempt to prove he's fully recovered from a knee problem which he suffered at Portsmouth that derailed his season last year.

According to The Independent, the possible takeover of Blackburn will not help the club this transfer window as it will not be completed until after the transfer deadline. Manager Sam Allardyce said,

"The new investment is not going to arrive before the transfer window is shut .

UPDATE: According to Andy Cryer at the Lancashire Telegraph, Blackburn have not had any negotiations with Portsmouth for striker John Utaka. Utaka's agent, Monique Van Vossem, said,

"We had heard there might be some interest from Blackburn but nothing definite at the moment .

Some ill-advised comments made by the Celtic chairman John Reid at last year's club AGM may now be coming back to haunt him, as rivals Rangers seem to be coasting to a Scottish Premier League championship. Mark Murphy takes a look at how the two clubs have progressed this season and finds that Reid's bullishness couldn't have come with much worse timing.