By GORDON SHARROCK DOUBTS continue to cast a cloud over Alan Stubbs' record-breaking transfer to Celtic.

FIFA are expected to investigate the role of Stubbs' agent, Neil Rioch, in the £5.5 million deal despite his categoric assurance that he is entitled to negotiate transfers.

Comments on behalf of the world governing body have exposed grey areas in the regulations governing the activity of agents.

Celtic are playing down the problems but fears have been expressed north of the border that the whole deal, which netted Wanderers £3.5 million, could be declared void with Celtic and Stubbs facing hefty fines.

A spokesman warned: "The transfer can be called off or suspended in the most extreme case, if what has been said is proved to be so. It could be quite an important case."

FIFA regulations state that only licensed agents, who have posted a £100,000 bond are allowed to act on behalf of players. Mr Rioch, younger brother of former Burnden boss Bruce, says a merger of his IMR ProSport Management company with PML, the company run by fully-licensed agent Phil Morrison, was activated on advice from the English FA and gives him authority to represent players.

But the FIFA spokesman claimed: "Licences are personalised. Nobody can work for anyone else.

"Anyone who becomes involved in negotiations has to be a licensed agent himself and not working on behalf of anyone else."

But Celtic and Stubbs can cite the £1.8 million transfer of Scotland international Eoin Jess from Aberdeen to Coventry in February to show that a precedent has been set. The Scottish FA threatened action and the transfer appeared to be in jeopardy because Jess had been represented by unlicensed Struan Marshall.

But Marshall's explanation that he was working on behalf of Jon Holmes, who is licensed, was accepted and the deal was completed without a hitch. Nevertheless, the International Football Agents' Association is pressing FIFA to come down heavily on so-called 'rogue' agents and the fear in Scotland is that Stubbs and Celtic could be the high-profile case to be made an example of.

Wanderers are unlikely to be affected by any enquiry since they dealt directly with Celtic to set up the deal and were not involved in any negotiations involving Mr Rioch.

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