In September 2012, just a month after Sterling made his first start for the club and having been called into his first England squad for the game against Ukraine, Rodgers said: After I spoke to Roy Hodgson and Raheem, my next call was to his agent". A ploy to warn motor-mouth Ward that the contract dealings with such a young player should be kept on the down-low, perhaps. I wanted him (Ward) to be aware that this news was coming out and that, when it did, he wasnt jumping in the car up to Liverpool to have a chat with me. I want to manage the expectations of the kid. The last thing we need is Sky Sports coming up with a yellow bar saying he has signed a five-year contract after playing two games. Comments which went under the radar at the time, with Sterlings advisor(s) relatively unknown. But they, and specifically Aidy Ward, are now known he will be spoken about for years to come after one of the most ferocious contract debacles in recent history.
