Video: Jamie Hart reveals why he chose to be a football agent
A Nottinghamshire cricketer who was forced to retire through injury is now a pioneer in the world of football agency.
Jamie Hart, the son of Paul Hart who has played and managed Nottingham Forest, now runs his own football agency called Hart Sport and Media Limited after his cricket career was curtailed.
Rising through the Notts cricket ranks, he played one first class game against Yorkshire before snapping his hamstring at the age of 20.
Being a bowler, it meant he couldn’t land his leading foot comfortably when bowling.
He carried on for a couple of years before retiring, which is why the transition from cricket to working in football agency was initially difficult for him.
My Dad said he’d back me but if I stepped out of line once that would be it
Speaking on Sports Week, Jamie said: “Retiring from cricket was the biggest gutting of my life; to get injured and lose my cricket career was the biggest low I had at that time in my life.
“It took me a long time to get over it but I had to work.
“It was football agency that I decided to throw my hand at and it was literally that; I had a lot of contacts in football and fortunately have half a brain and was able to build a business.”
Jamie also revealed what he thinks makes a good agent and his Dad’s initial take on his new career intentions.
He said: “A good agent quite simply looks after the interest of their client; if they are not doing that they’re doing a bad job.
“If agents are looking for money and looking from how they can benefit from a deal, then that’s not how they should behave.
“I remember when I first started my Dad said to me I’ll back you on this but if you step out of line once then that will be the end of your agency career.”
For more from Jamie, watch the October 26 episode of Sports Week on Notts TV at 7.30pm, or see our catch up service from 8pm, where the entire series is also available on demand.
