Blair's son tries career with a sporting chance

His Dad, Tony, was Prime Minister of Britain. But Nicky Blair is entering an equally tempestuous political arena: he is setting up as a football agent.

Blair, an Oxford-educated school teacher, already runs a computer gaming business with his housemate, 22-year-old Gabriel Moraes.

Now they have reportedly set themselves up as football agents, even if they don't have any players on their books yet.

Mark Steele, an agent with Agent Energetics, dismissed suggestions that Blair, 23, would find it difficult to make a success of his new career. "He is from a famous background so that may open up some doors for him," he said. "But it is a free country, so good luck to him and we will see how he gets on."

Nicky Blair became a teacher two years ago. He was recruited by Teach First, a charity backed by 40 firms that sends top graduates to teach in struggling schools before many of them move on to jobs in London's financial district. Blair has been working in a West Midlands school, where he earned £17,800 ($41,000) rising to £22,000 in his second year.

Blair and his mother, Cherie, who is also a director in his other company, Magnitude Gaming, have reportedly been excitedly telling friends about the venture. A spokesman for the Blairs was not available for comment yesterday.

- INDEPENDENT