MARK Ellis, a football agent and scout, has been leading this week’s pre-season training at Hereford United.

Ellis told the Hereford Times he ‘knows the best players’ and had helped AFC Bournemouth, Sheffield Wednesday and QPR to promotion in the last four years.

"Anyone you speak to in the right circles in football, will only say positive things about me," he claimed.

Middlesbrough today confirmed that Ellis worked on a ‘part-time basis covering some games for the club in France and Belgium for a few months’.

Sheffield Wednesday have confirmed that Ellis ‘worked on a part-time scouting basis on an expenses-only deal under then-manager Gary Megson’..

AFC Bournemouth told the Hereford Times: "Mark Ellis has worked for AFC Bournemouth at different points over the last few years. He has mainly been utilised in scouting roles."

Ellis works for Crystalsportsmanagement in Hornchurch.

He is recruiting players for Hereford United, who are under the new ownership of Tommy Agombar, and were expelled from the Conference on Tuesday.