http://tinyurl.com/6gt9d Agents cost League ￡5m By VIKKI ORVICE LEAGUE clubs forked out ￡5million to agents over the past six months. Cash-strapped Leeds were the biggest spenders, paying more than ￡1.5m as they sought to slash their wage bill after relegation from the Premiership. Crewe, noted for developing home-grown players such as Dean Ashton — sold to Norwich for ￡3m this week — were the only Championship side not to pay agents’ fees between June and December. The Football League report shows an increase of ￡3.6m being paid to agents since its first survey last June. League chairman Sir Brian Mawhinney admitted: “Too much money is leaving football to agents.” The report shows clubs paid agents in 275 transfers, representing 17 per cent of all deals. Leeds paid ￡1,553,688 to agents to off-load their high-earning stars. Leicester and Wolves, who were also relegated, were next in line with respective agents’ bills of ￡405,000 and ￡306,121. Mawhinney said: “Not all agents are bad. “But the report strengthens the argument that football needs an effective regulator to ensure a level playing field.” Leeds insist deals brokered by agents slashed ￡20m off their wage bill. A spokesman said: “We feel the savings justifies the payments.” Clubs not using agents THIRTEEN teams have not used agents for the second six-month period in a row: Crewe, Blackpool, Colchester, Torquay, Wrexham, Boston, Bury , Darlington, Kidderminster, Lincoln, Rochdale, Rushden, Scunthorpe. Huddersfield and Stockport did not use agents in the past six months (July 1 to Dec 31). --

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