The latest Football League Agents' Fees Report has revealed that payments to agents by League clubs are at their lowest levels, relative to total transfer spending, since the publication of agents' fees began in 2004.

In total, League clubs committed to pay £7.9m to agents compared to £6.2m for the second half of 2006.However, the resurgent transfer market also saw League clubs spend a total of £42.1m on player acquisitions compared to the £21.7m spent twelve months before, an increase of 94%.

Football League Chairman, Lord Mawhinney, said: "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."

The report reveals that clubs committed to pay agents in 15% (283) of the 1,913 player transactions that took place during the reporting period, collectively committing a sum of £7,930,378.

Championship clubs accounted for 84% (£6.7m) of this total, with League 1 and League 2 clubs accounting for 13% (£1.0m) and 3% (£206k) respectively.

A total of nineteen clubs did not commit any money to agents during the last six months (Blackpool, Crewe Alexandra, Hartlepool United, HuddersfieldTown, AccringtonStanley, Barnet, Brentford, Bury, Chester City, Chesterfield, Dagenham & Redbridge, Grimsby Town, Hereford United, Lincoln City, Mansfield Town, Notts County, Peterborough United, Rochdale and Stockport County).

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Agents' Fees Report Summary
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