WHAT is it about over privileged footballers making complete prats of themselves?

Why are so many going off the rails and why can't they deal with the pressures that the profession brings?

Do the clubs do enough for their talented stars to keep them on the straight and narrow or should the players take more responsibility for their own actions?

And what steps can be taken to stop the rot so that future generations don't make the same mistakes?

Players have never before had to deal with the relentless media intrusion of today's football world. Some have bigger profiles than pop stars. So a private life is difficult as everything is under the microscope.

The greatest anomaly in the game is that top players are paid vast amounts for what is basically a part-time job.

A couple of hours training per day, a day off midweek and a game at weekend. So lots of free time has to be filled and time that must be managed correctly.

But with the loads of money sloshing about is a decadent lifestyle taking over? Maybe it's no longer easy for these guys to keep to the adage of 'train, play and rest'.

These are healthy young boys, full of energy and understandably want to sample the best things in life. Some may find it difficult waiting until after their career is over. A game of snooker, a round of golf? Will these activities really satisfy highly-motivated individuals? Or indeed would an educational course preparing them for their future career after the playing days are over, seem a worthwhile exercise?

Nowadays players are wary about gaining new friends. They have few they can trust implicitly. Peter Kay head of the Sporting Chance Clinic, the organisation helped set up by new Wycombe boss Tony Adams, which supports players with addictions, suggests that players sometimes try to recreate the buzz of scoring the winning goal by getting involved with some other stimulant- maybe drugs, gambling or drink.

So what steps are being taken to protect the stars of tomorrow, not falling into the same traps?

Academy players have the opportunity to learn from other's mistakes. They all have ambitions of making it in the big time. That's what they hanker after. To be the next David Beckham or Michael Owen they must possess drive and confidence in themselves and maybe a touch of arrogance. So it is difficult to leave these characteristics on the pitch and not take them into their private lives.

In the 16-19 age groups, they are forewarned of the dangers. Firstly statistics don't lie. The majority will not make it so it is important to continue their education. Twelve hours per week is obligatory.

Discipline is also expected from the youngsters. Making a mistake will usually result in a quiet chat and a word of warning about their future behaviour. If it happens again then strong action will be taken and a third time will result in a "sorry but goodbye" result. So the clubs are adamant that everything is being done to get the young pros on track.

With all this advice in place why do some players not heed the warnings and still do their own thing? Is it just a case of too much too soon?

Certainly going from a £100 a week to several thousand, would understandably freak anybody out whatever the backgrounds they came from.

A good agent will help. Someone who will handle the finances, explain the pit falls, teach them how to behave and what is expected. The player, therefore, must take his time to find one he can trust, so avoiding the many sharks around looking for an easy buck.

But perhaps the best idea to help the kids through the difficult stages of their young career is one of mentoring.

A senior, well respected player would take on board the responsibility of one of those junior players at the club, a promising 17-year-old who has a great chance of breaking through into the first team.

The benefits a starry eyed youngster would gain from regular meetings with an Alan Shearer, Gareth Southgate, or Denis Irwin for instance would be enormous.

These players have been through it all, experienced the highs, suffered the lows but have come through the other end even stronger individuals and are still performing at the top level. Talking to the great men of the profession and in total confidence. Brilliant. Everybody would benefit.