Source: FOOTYMAD
Shrimpers agent fees drop to 18k: 'It's essential that clubs work to reduce this liability'
The Football League's latest figures show that Southend United spent £18,000 on agents fees in the 2009/10 season, not bad when we couldn't even pay the players wages! So Uncle Ron signed off £18k to those blood sucking leeches called agents then. However, this figure is a big improvement on the £78,820 the Shrimpers dished out in the previous campaign.The publication of the entire Football League clubs' spending on agents fees has revealed that money committed has increased in the last year from £8.8million to £12.7million, a 44.3% increase!Not surprisingly, the bulk of the dosh came from Championship clubs, who paid over £10million, while League One weighed in with over a couple of million, League Two giving just £366,781, bless.Middlesbrough spent the most individually, with £1.4million being given across 29 deals, Newcastle not far behind.In League One Southampton spent £401,248, I wonder how much Lee Barnard's agent picked up, while Notts County gave out £246,483, which was 66% of the whole amount spent by the basement division!14 clubs did well not to give those beloved servants to the game anything, so kudos; Accrington Stanley, Barnet, Bournemouth, Chesterfield, Crewe, Dagenham, Darlington, Exeter, Hereford, Lincoln, Macclesfield, Port Vale, Stockport and Tranmere.The overall amount though is a figure that has obviously concerned Football League chairman Greg Clarke, especially in the present economic climate.Clarke told www.football-league.co.uk: "Given the current economic climate, it is worrying to see such a significant amount leaking from the game. This year's figures demonstrate a considerable increase on those of last season and it is essential that clubs work to reduce this liability over the coming campaign."
