The Auditor
New member
Lord Mawhinney believes a regulatory framework to govern agents is needed after The Football League published its latest 'agents fees' report.
The report, which is the third to be published in a year by the League, states that member clubs spent more than £7.8 million on agents' fees between July 1, 2004, and June 30, 2005.
The report also states that £2.3 million was spent on fees in the first six months of this year - an increase of £1.4 million from the same period in 2004.
The total represents nearly a third of the £25 million that The Football League receives in television revenue.
Championship clubs accounted for 87.5 percent, or more than £6.8 million, of the £7.8 million spent on fees in the last 12 months - with Leeds United having spent nearly £1.9 million alone in the last year.
That compares with Watford, who only spent £9,500 in the same period, while Crewe Alexandra did not spend any money on fees.
League One clubs spent a total of £595,870 on fees - with Hull City, Sheffield Wednesday and Bristol City being the highest spenders last season.
Five clubs in Blackpool, Colchester United, Huddersfield Town, Stockport County and Wrexham did not spend money on agents over that period of time.
Only £325,020 was spent by clubs in League Two, with Southend United and Swansea City being the highest spenders in the division last season.
Seven clubs - Bury, Cheltenham Town, Kidderminster Harriers, Macclesfield Town, Rochdale, Rushden & Diamonds and Scunthorpe United - did not pay agents' fees in that period.
Mawhinney feels too much money is going out of the game to agents and he stated his disappointment that the rest of English football has not followed The Football League's policy of transparency.
He declared that the League and its member clubs will take steps of their own to introduce regulations, should no consensus be reached throughout the game.
"Football League clubs have taken an important lead in committing themselves to transparency in this area," said Mawhinney.
"Too much money is leaving football through payments to agents and League clubs have made it clear to me that they want a stronger regulatory framework governing how agents operate.
"The introduction of this much needed framework is currently being hindered by a lack of consensus on the issue across English football as a whole.
"Should this continue, then I'm sure that League clubs will not hesitate to take the lead, once again, by introducing regulations of their own.
"Regulations that will help them keep some of this much-needed money in the game."
We spent £45595 on 44 "transactions"...14 New contracts 12 updated contracts 6 cancelled contracts and 12 loan contracts
Money well spent ? comments please
The report, which is the third to be published in a year by the League, states that member clubs spent more than £7.8 million on agents' fees between July 1, 2004, and June 30, 2005.
The report also states that £2.3 million was spent on fees in the first six months of this year - an increase of £1.4 million from the same period in 2004.
The total represents nearly a third of the £25 million that The Football League receives in television revenue.
Championship clubs accounted for 87.5 percent, or more than £6.8 million, of the £7.8 million spent on fees in the last 12 months - with Leeds United having spent nearly £1.9 million alone in the last year.
That compares with Watford, who only spent £9,500 in the same period, while Crewe Alexandra did not spend any money on fees.
League One clubs spent a total of £595,870 on fees - with Hull City, Sheffield Wednesday and Bristol City being the highest spenders last season.
Five clubs in Blackpool, Colchester United, Huddersfield Town, Stockport County and Wrexham did not spend money on agents over that period of time.
Only £325,020 was spent by clubs in League Two, with Southend United and Swansea City being the highest spenders in the division last season.
Seven clubs - Bury, Cheltenham Town, Kidderminster Harriers, Macclesfield Town, Rochdale, Rushden & Diamonds and Scunthorpe United - did not pay agents' fees in that period.
Mawhinney feels too much money is going out of the game to agents and he stated his disappointment that the rest of English football has not followed The Football League's policy of transparency.
He declared that the League and its member clubs will take steps of their own to introduce regulations, should no consensus be reached throughout the game.
"Football League clubs have taken an important lead in committing themselves to transparency in this area," said Mawhinney.
"Too much money is leaving football through payments to agents and League clubs have made it clear to me that they want a stronger regulatory framework governing how agents operate.
"The introduction of this much needed framework is currently being hindered by a lack of consensus on the issue across English football as a whole.
"Should this continue, then I'm sure that League clubs will not hesitate to take the lead, once again, by introducing regulations of their own.
"Regulations that will help them keep some of this much-needed money in the game."
We spent £45595 on 44 "transactions"...14 New contracts 12 updated contracts 6 cancelled contracts and 12 loan contracts
Money well spent ? comments please
Last edited: