Manchester United have banned an agent from their training complex for 'tapping up' young academy prospects.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson made the revelation when asked to respond to captain Gary Neville's comments that players do no need agents.

"There are good and bad agents. We had a situation just recently of an agent coming to our academy and tapping up young players of 11, 12," he said.

"We barred him, so he started to wait outside stopping the parents' cars."

Ferguson agreed with Neville that agents are taking too much money out of the game, but the United boss still sees a role for them.

"Providing agents are professional and responsible, there is nothing wrong with players going to them for advice," said Ferguson.

"The thing that should be investigated is the payments that are made.

"It is obvious they are taking a lot of money out of football, so much so that they are now able to 'buy' players.

"That is a really dangerous area to go into, because then the agents can control the markets.

"But if they are paid the same rates as lawyers and accountants and have a responsible attitude towards the industry, there is nothing wrong with that."