ANGRY Newcastle United manager Bobby Robson last night stepped up his campaign to rid football of agents he claims are holding the game to ransom.

Robson has been stung by the saga surrounding Duncan Ferguson's £4m return to Everton, which finally went through on Thursday after collapsing a day earlier over the striker's claim for a £1m pay-off from Newcastle.

The United boss blames Ferguson's agent, Dennis Roach, for "hijacking'' the deal and causing a delay which cost Newcastle the signature of another player - believed to be front-runner Craig Bellamy.

Coventry clinched a £6.5m deal with Norwich for the Welsh international and Robson was left seething.

The former England boss branded some agents as "parasites'' and yesterday revealed he had received a message of support over his stance from a fellow manager.

Football League Managers' Association chief John Barnwell is also speaking to Robson after hearing similar views from his members.

With football awash with TV and sponsorship money, old warhorse Robson is in no doubt about what must be done to curb agents out to make a fast buck.

"We've got to be sure they can't operate,'' declared the 67-year-old boss. "Had a certain situation been handled more professionally this week, you would have seen another face at Newcastle, but that got scuppered and that's why I was so angry.

"We had set up a perfect deal, but because the Ferguson move was hijacked by an agent, we lost two players -- Duncan and another one. That hurts me.

"When the Ferguson deal was cut and dried, it was two plus two equals four.

"But some people tried to make it six and we wouldn't be party to that. I'm very angry about it.

"In this industry we have some very good agents who are straight and honest and a boon to the business. And we have another sort who put their own financial situation before anything else.

"It would be interesting to know how much money has gone out of football into agents' hands. In some cases, that money shouldn't have gone where it has gone.

"If I go to a solicitor, there's a rate for the job - £150 an hour or whatever. But that doesn't happen in football. I'm not afraid to stand up and say that, with some agents, it's money, money, money.

"A manager rang me today, supporting me for what I said. He said he'd had an agent in to see him to work another deal for one of his players who still had three years on his contract.

"The agent said that unless the club does something now, he's not sure how the player will perform this season.

"If agents are saying things like that to managers, we've got to do something about them.

"We've had two outgoing transfers and one incoming transfer this summer baulked by an agent and we have to clear football of that element. They think there are bunches of money on trees for them to pick.

"John Barnwell has been trying to ring me all day. He's been talking to several other managers who feel the same.''

Robson insisted he had no argument with Ferguson, whose 21 months on Tyneside were blighted by injuries.

"I had no problems with Duncan,'' he said. "My only problem with him was that I couldn't get him on the pitch enough.

"Every time we did he was fantastic. He's an awesome player and if Everton can get him on the pitch more times than I could, they've got a great deal.

"We never had a fight or a row. I was upset with his injuries, that's all. There were no doubts about the way he played. He and Alan Shearer, at one stage last season, were as good a combination as you'll see.

"They were as good as Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole at Manchester United. But all the shenanigans that went on with the deal this week were, in my opinion, sad for the game. I have never bought a player through him (Roach).

"I don't know how a guy outside football can put a block on a transfer that was as simple as ABC.''

The furore over the Ferguson deal has overshadowed the build-up to the Magpies' Premiership opener tomorrow against champions Manchester United.

"It's a very tricky one to begin with,'' admitted Robson. "I'm conscious that Newcastle lost there 5-1 late last August just before I came, so I know what's in store.

"We beat them 3-0 in the return and apart from their Charity Shield defeat by Chelsea, we're the last team to beat them. They might have a surprise for us, but we're ready.

"It's one of THE fixtures of the calendar. We've sold a few players and bought three, but we're not finished yet in that respect.

"We got off to a very bad start last season, but recovered to finish 11th with 52 points. We're looking to finish in the top half this time. If you do that, by European standards, you're a very good team.

"Newcastle and Manchester United were side by side four or five years ago, but they've gone further ahead and we've gone slightly backwards.

"They've created the distance, but I think the gap is closing. The chances are they'll win the title again this year, but by a closer margin. They're the yardstick. Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Leeds and - hopefully - Newcastle are getting stronger and we can contest the title more closely. That would be good for our league.''

Skipper Shearer, fit after tendinitis in a knee, will have £7m new boy Carl Cort as his strike partner.

"We had to give Alan an injection, a steroid, and it's been a little miracle - it's worked a treat,'' said Robson. "I'm looking forward to seeing Carl play alongside him. I think Carl will play for England in time. Now that Duncan has gone, he's going to be a great asset.'