Town spent £125,000 on agents' fees in the six months to the end of December 2007. The figures are revealed in the Football League's Agents' Fees Report.

The fees went on nine new player registrations or transfers, six updated contracts and one loan. In the same period in the previous year the Blues paid only £5,000 to agents.

Overall, Football League sides paid £7.9 million to agents during the second half of 2007, compared with £6.2 million in the same period during 2006. League clubs spend £42.1 million on players during the final six months of 2007, with only £21.7 million spent a year earlier, an increase of 94%.

Football League chairman Lord Mawhinney says he is pleased to see that despite the busier market, clubs are controlling their spend on agents' fees more closely: "I am encouraged that a more buoyant transfer market has been coupled with a more disciplined approach to clubs' dealings with agents.

"Between July and December 2007 payments to agents, as a proportion of total transfer spending, fell to 19%, compared to 29% for the same period in 2006. This season's figure is also significantly lower than the 23% recorded in 2005 and the 63% recorded in 2004.

"Whilst £7.9m is still a lot of money leaving the game, it is clear that we are beginning to make progress in terms of establishing a fairer balance in the relationship between clubs, players and agents.

"When The League introduced the publication of agents' fees four seasons ago, we did it because we believed these figures should be a matter of public record and debate.

"This debate prompted changes to The League's regulations on agents, such as prohibiting the practice of 'dual representation'. These changes have since been more widely implemented across the game, following their adoption by the FA in their new agents' regulations."

You can read the full report here.

Photo: Action Images

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