IF Richard Johnson ever has designs on winning the jump jockeys' title, he has to ditch his agent Dave Roberts.

That's the view of three-time champion Richard Dunwoody, who believes that the use of agents has evolved "in a questionable way".

As well as Johnson, Roberts has champion Tony McCoy, Barry Geraghty, Robert Thornton and Tom Scudamore among his clients.

He is responsible for placing almost a third of the jump jockeys riding today and takes 10 per cent of their earnings - from riding fees to any prize-money.

In his new book, Method In My Madness: 10 Years Out Of The Saddle, released tomorrow, Dunwoody reveals the traumas of his epic expedition to the South Pole, his appearance on Strictly Come Dancing and his frank thoughts on how British racing needs to change.

Some of his radical views are sure to spark fierce debate, not least his criticism of the influence that Roberts has in jump racing.

"You would struggle to find a greater supporter for the theory of jockeys using agents than me but the practice has evolved in a questionable way," Dunwoody writes.

"The influence of an agent might not seem terribly important but as uber-agent Roberts is often described by trainers and jockeys as the 'man who runs jump racing', he obviously wields considerable power.

"Roberts works tremendously hard on behalf of all his jockeys and is at pains to point out that he represents a 'team'; it is the trainers who make the decisions on which particular jockey to book and apparently he simply tells them who of the team is available to ride and never pushes one jockey over another. In theory that sounds very equitable, but does anyone really believe in practice that the entire team get a fair look-in?"

Dunwoody adds: "If he is doing his job correctly, he will be ensuring that as many of his team are on as many winners as possible . . . but there will also be times when he can manipulate it so one of his top jockeys is free to ride a horse in a race that the trainer may initially have had no intention of running in. I have heard that this happens and completely understand why it does so.

"But can you imagine trying to explain that to an 'outsider'? The most powerful man in jump racing is a jockeys' agent and he can manipulate the runners and riders in races to suit the best needs of his team."

Dunwoody admits he would love to have employed Roberts but because he was title rival Adrian Maguire's agent, he felt there would have been a conflict of interest.

And with McCoy the undoubted No1, Dunwoody cannot understand why Johnson - who he believes doesn't get enough winning opportunities - does not jettison Roberts.

"Do I believe I would have won the title by three winners if I had been part of Roberts's team? No chance," Dunwoody adds. "For the same reason I find it extraordinary that Johnson has been represented by Roberts for the last fourteen years.

"I have no doubt he achieves the top results for his team but if I was a jockey, I'd remind myself that racing is not a team sport. And if I was Johnson, I'd get myself a new agent."

Roberts was unavailable for comment.