Star Exodus Blamed For Agents Fees

Last updated : 21 July 2005 By Kevin Markey
The Football League today published its annual annual figures paid by member clubs to licensed agents for the period July 2004 to 30 June 2005.

The six-month report to the 31 December 2004 saw Leeds reported as having committed to pay licensed agents £1.5m – some £900k more than their nearest rival.

However, big name players were shipped out in a bid to ease the crippling wage bill and this was used as the reason for the figure by Leeds today.

Mark Viduka, Dominic Matteo, Alan Smith, Danny Mills, Ian Harte and Nick Barmby were among the stars who headed the Elland Road exodus in the summer of 2004.

Chief executive officer Shaun Harvey, explaining the situation, pointed to the arrival of new chairman Ken Bates as a saving grace in negotiating early settlements to help keep the cost down.