When an agent’s demands forced Peterborough United to pull out of a transfer deal and Posh managerial contract details revealed

Chris Forrester of Peterborough United rides a tackle from James McClean of West Bromwich Albion. Photo: Joe Dnt/theposh.com.

But an agent’s demands has only caused him to walk away from a transfer deal on one occasion.

Posh were keen on signing Irish winger James McClean from Derry City in 2011 when MacAnthony pulled the plug.

MacAnthony told ‘Hard Truth’ podcast listeners: “We pay agents no more than 5% of any deal and he wanted 15%. It dragged on so long I just pulled out of the deal and he went to Sunderland instead.

“The clubs had agreed a £150k fee, but we couldn’t get it over the line.

“Fair play to the player as his career path worked out okay for him.”

MacAnthony has also used his podcast to lift the lid on managerial negotiations at Posh and other clubs.

MacAnthony said: “I want my managers to be as ambitious and as determined to secure success as I am and their salary will reflect that.

“I reckon between £75-90k a year for a manager in League Two is the norm. A League One manager will usually get a six-figure salary, but plenty more for a top manager at a top club and there is serious money to be made for a manager in the Championship.

“I usually put incentives in the contracts for my manager, but there will also be ‘get outs’ for me in the event we are not successful.

“I’ve given bonuses to managers when we’ve been live on television and if we do get promoted to the Championship he would get a hell of a pay bump.

“Usually if I sack a manager I’ll pay him a year’s salary on a monthly basis until he finds another job when those payments will stop.

“I had a clause in one manager’s contract which gave the club the right to fire him with just a three month pay-off if we were outside the top six.

“I will say with the current manager (Darren Ferguson) the money is not the most important thing. He gets us and we get him. He wants to work for this club and get us promoted. His salary has never been a big issue.

“I was stunned when I learnt of Sol Campbell’s salary at Macclesfield though. For a club of that size to pay £250k a year was lunacy.”