MIDDLESBROUGH Football Club chairman Steve Gibson accused a former football agent of corruption during a heated court exchange.

Tempers flared in York Crown Court yesterday as Mr Gibson described how his relationship with Ian Elliott become so strained he stopped dealing with him.

The pair fell out over new contract negotiations for ex- Boro midfielder Stewart Downing – then represented by Mr Elliott.

He said Mr Elliott released stories to the media saying Mr Downing wanted to leave the Riverside in a bid to drive up the contract offer.

He revealed that Boro’s offer – of £30,000 a week, rising to £40,000 a week – was never put to Mr Downing.

Mr Gibson said he argued with Mr Elliott over the telephone and from then ties were severed.

“I was exceptionally angry,”

he said. “I decided at the end of that conversation that there was no point in trying to talk to him.”

Instead, a meeting was held between Mr Downing and his father, Mr Gibson and Keith Lamb, Boro’s chief executive.

“They were astounded at the figure put before them, and it was clear from the discussions that the information passed to the Downing family had been corrupted by Elliott.”

Mr Gibson said the standard payment to an agent was four or five per cent of the total contract value, which in Mr Downing’s case was £11m.

But after receiving “several abusive phone calls” from the “totally obstructive” Mr Elliott, he reconsidered that payment. “There was no way I was going to pay him that kind of money,” he added. “So I slimmed down that offer to a maximum of £50,000 per annum.”

He also revealed that the parents of Manchester City midfielder Adam Johnson, who Mr Elliott represented when at Middlesbrough, had also voiced concerns.

Mr Gibson said he spoke with Mr Johnson’s “distressed”

father outside Hillsborough in Sheffield, who complained they felt intimidated by Mr Elliott over what was perceived to be an “unfounded”

debt.

While giving evidence, Mr Gibson clashed with defence barrister Robin Patton.

Judge Michael Taylor, a self-confessed Middlesbrough fan, warned him to calm down.

Mr Patton, who had earlier questioned Mr Gibson about his non-domicile status, said to him: “Not used to people contradicting you, are you?”

Mr Elliott, 53, of Foxhills Covert, Whickham, Newcastle, denies four charges of fraud in connection with Mr Downing.

The case continues.