The figures spent on agents' fees were published on Monday and they made positive reading for Town fans. The results were collected between October 2014-September 2015 and established Town as the Championship's fourth-lowest spenders (£261,347) with only Rotherham and league newcomers Bristol City and Preston below them.

Players signed during this year-long period include Jonas Knudsen, Freddie Sears, Brett Pitman, Jonathan Douglas and Ainsley Maitland-Niles. Admittedly, it's still early but all have contributed well so far and look to be reflecting value for money.

Meanwhile, the likes of Cole Skuse, Daryl Murphy and David McGoldrick have extended their contracts during this time, with Paul Taylor the last to have his paid off.

So what does this prove? Well, it's difficult not to draw comparisons directly to the clubs transfer policy under previous managers Roy Keane and Paul Jewell. Both of whose recruitments were expensive, with promotion the sole target at that point in time.

The introduction of FFP has obviously led to more focus on finances with the club clearly doing their utmost to keep costs low, and Town's on-pitch exploits suggest this more measured approach is paying dividends.

It's difficult not to draw comparisons to other teams in the league. Most notably Cardiff who top the list. Much of Cardiff's fees stem from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's short and unsuccessful reign.

Players such as Juan Cala, Magnus Wolff Eikrem, Mats Moller Daehli and Peter Odemwingie all had their contracts settled, and were left seeking new clubs following the Bluebirds' relegation from the Premier League. This is just another example of the short-termism associated with modern football today.

QPR are unsurprisingly towards the top end with their agent's fees exceeding £2 million. A team that seemingly have no true structure and have been lured into paying agents large fees in order to sign lucrative players.

They do seem to have taken a slightly more thoughtful, youthful approach this time around but with Chris Ramsey sacked early into the season, it's evident QPR are still very much a work in progress.

Now don't get me wrong, any club can be forgiven for throwing their eggs into one basket such is the importance of staying in the Premier League nowadays. However at what price? What does this mean to the future of a football club?

You're left trying to find escape routes for high earners, whilst others are still struggling to adjust to the English game, with a manager unfamiliar to Championship football. The whole structure of a club becomes fragmented and it's been proven that many sides suffer lasting effects from relegation.

Fulham are second on the list and despite assembling a decent-looking Championship squad, they're mid-table, managerless and still trying to find some consistency.

Only one of the current top eight clubs' agents' fee figures exceed £1.5 million and its no surprise when you look at the way those clubs are run.

Burnley for example have spent less than half of Fulham, Cardiff and QPR's output on agents and they look well set up for a Premier League return. Much of the playing squad has remained the same and the main agent fees were presumably spent on recruiting Joey Barton and Andre Gray, two players who have undoubtedly strengthened them this season.

Middlesbrough have an experienced owner in Steve Gibson whilst Hull have retained their faith in Steve Bruce. Birmingham are another club who are relying on youth prospects and have built up a squad consisting of many free transfers.

I'm aware that these figures may not tell the whole story of a club, and that the money spent on wages has not been accounted for. Some will also argue that the statistics show a lack of ambition on our part.

However, we seem to have shown more competence at board level in recent times and these figures express the ever tightening bond between management and ownership.

We seem in good hands right now, both on the pitch and off the pitch, and in a week where Bolton's current financial plight has been described as 'increasingly perilous', that's surely something we have to be thankful for.

MVBlue added 16:25 - Dec 2 At the end of this year the premiership teams will get £100m EACH before add-ons. This means if Norwich remain in the premiership they will be £100m better off from the get go. With those clubs being relegated with strong squads and parachute payments, we may struggle to get up with the play-offs being our only chance. Its noticable from this Premiership deason already, that the finances from Premier League membership is already balancing out teams and clubs are holding on to their talent. See how Chelsea failed to get john Stones and how their season has unravelled, they tried everything but Everton can almost match it. Leicester signed Cambiasso. Crystal palace have retained their squad and resigned Zaha from Manchester United probably on similar wages. It feels like the trap door is being pulled shut, because Marcus was aiming for promotion before and failed, but just when this tipping point is being reached at the end of this season we are being frugal and careful. I would love for us to sign Joniesta (Johnny Williams), but after 14 years of waiting, we have to wait some more. I hope i'm not too right on this.

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carsey added 17:35 - Dec 2 My own view is that teams remain where they are dependant on finances available to buy top quality players and pay them top wages. It is the same in all the leagues across Europe now and it won't go away unless a salary cap is introduced which can't happen because of EU rules on restriction of trade. Even the Premier League is in reality 3 mini leagues - those with a chance of Champions League, those in the middle with no fear of relegation and those fighting relegation every season. There will be some movement of the odd team but generally not much. The Premier League is long gone so far as Ipswich Town is concerned (IMO) unless we get lucky via the play offs following which you have to hope whoever the manager is can keep us up there for a couple of seasons, reap the financial rewards and stabilise as the likes of Stoke and WBA have done. For now whilst like others I dream of success I am happy we are not about to go bust and will put up with drab football for a few more years.

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Edmunds5 added 17:39 - Dec 2 MVBlue, I think everyone shares those concerns to an extent. Along with the stability I've mentioned there is a slight lack of risk from Evans part but I think we have to look at the bigger picture. We have a manager who specialises in transforming fortunes of players who's careers may have been stalling or going downwards. Would I trust Mick to spend a million pound wisely on a player? I'm honestly not sure I would. Look at his Wolves team, Foley at right back, Jarvis, Kightly, Henry. None of these cost a great deal but all did well for him. I genuinely think this seasons team is stronger and unlike last season, there isn't a team I'm particularly fearful of this season. Last season there were two or three who were a cut above.

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realprojection added 21:01 - Dec 2 Fascinating. Surprisingly there is very little relationship between agents’ spending and points this season. But Ipswich are clearly overperforming.
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