Foxes second in agents' fees table

Leicester City were second only to West Ham United in their spending on fees for footballing agents in the 2011/12 season, the Football League has announced.

Overall, the total sum paid by all member clubs to agents rose by £5 million to £21.7 million over the previous year, with the Foxes responsible for £1,812,371, a fee second only to the Hammers' £4,314,270. Whilst the London club were promoted having spent big on players such as Nicky Maynard and Ricardo Vaz Te, City made 15 signings over the course of the season to accumulate their total. Only two other Championship clubs joined the Foxes and the Hammers in surpassing £1 million.

"While £21 million is a lot of money leaving the game, it should also be noted that a considerable amount of this total has been spent by a small number of clubs," said Greg Clarke, chairman of the Football League, "In fact, almost a fifth of the overall figure was spent by one club alone."

Indeed, there were four clubs who spent nothing on agents' fees: Hartlepool in League One; and Accrington Stanley, AFC Wimbledon, Barnet and Crewe Alexandra in League Two. Agents' fees are paid to footballing agents acting for a player in order to complete a transfer between clubs, and typically account for a percentage of the fee paid for a player.

"Where such spending forms part of a sustainable business plan it shouldn't be of great concern and supporters should be encouraged to see our clubs committing themselves to the new Financial Fair Play regulations that will take effect across all three divisions in the new season," added Clarke, "In time, these rules will require clubs to be more circumspect with regard to their spending and may help reduce the costs incurred in this area."