Clubs reveal agents' fees

[LFC_DO]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=706266&sec=england&cc=5739

Premier League clubs are paying almost £2 million a week to agents in commission as the middle men's earnings were revealed for the first time by the top flight.

Is Man City's financial strength damaging football?

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Manchester City were unsurprisingly the Premier League's big spenders on agents.

The 20 English top flight clubs disclosed they spent £70.7 million on agents' fees last season alone.

Mel Stein, the highly respected executive of the Association of Agents, told ESPN Soccernet: "In many cases the agents earn their corn.

"You can't consider it in a vacuum. You have to ask the question what percentage of the transfer fees are the agents' fees? And what benefit has the club received?"

Stein, one time agent to Paul Gascoigne and Chris Waddle, continued: If the club win a title or stay up then as I would say that the agents' fees are worth every penny."

Stein, in other words, argues that an agent has to deliver value for his commission, by bringing the clubs top class players.

Manchester City were by far the biggest spenders, splashing out almost £13 million during dates covering last winter and the recently closed summer transfer window. But City did spend almost £200 million on virtually a completely new team.

Chelsea, bankrolled by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, paid out about £9.5 million - the second highest - with Liverpool third on £6.7m and Tottenham Hotspur writing cheques worth £6.1m.

Manchester United were the first Premier League club to go public with their agents fees, and that was brought in when the Glazers took over. They have now been followed by the entire Premier League. United spent just £1.5 million, while Premier League new boys Burnley parted with the least amount - less than £500,000.

The Premier League clubs have followed the example set by the Football League, who began to publish annual spending reports five years ago.

Wolverhampton Wanderers, who were promoted from the Championship last season, said the £1.2 million they spent came during a busy period of player signings and contract renewals, which also tend to incur agents' fees.

Wolves chief executive Jez Moxey said: "We welcome the publication of agent fee payments across the Premier League and the increased level of transparency it brings to a subject that interests everyone in football.

"The figure published today reflects a small part of the financial commitment we made in making the moves to strengthen the squad during the two transfer windows in question.

"We also secured some of our best young players on new long term contracts in order to help ensure stability and continuity at the club."

The list in full:

1. Manchester City - £12,874,283
2. Chelsea - £9,562,223
3. Liverpool - £6,657,305
4. Tottenham - £6,066,935
5. Wigan - £5,527,548
6. Arsenal - £4,760,241
7. West Ham - £3,576,972
8. Portsmouth - £3,184,725
9. Bolton - £3,166,611
10. Everton - £2,008,407
11. Sunderland - £2,007,040
12 Aston Villa - £1,708,374
13. Blackburn - £1,610,885
14. Hull - £1,599,188
15. Manchester United - £1,517,393
16. Fulham - £1,469,258
17. Wolves - £1,235,703
18. Birmingham - £974,982
19. Stoke - £716,042
20. Burnley - £468,398

 

[HC]

We pay the cunts 4X more than Utd do?

 

[the_khl]

It seems like a silly ammount of money really.

Has Parry got anything to do with this then you'd wonder?

 

[gkmacca]

He says they 'earn their corn'. As agents per se, they don't. But they've been crafty: the likes of Stein and Sky Andrew have gradually presented themselves as agents/managers/confidants/PR officers/personal assistants to young players who don't know any better, and included their 'package' in the deal when negotiating with clubs. All they should be doing is what, say, a literary agent does: get you a deal, push for the highest price and the best terms possible and then take their 10% and go away until the next time a contract needs discussing. Instead they just leech non-stop and behave as though they're doing clubs a favour. Look at Sky Andrew's 'handling' of Jermaine Pennant - constant interfering, never criticising, always indulging and covering up errors and indiscretions like a low grade Max Clifford. They all need cutting down to size.

 

[Squiggles]

Robbie Keane's agent will have a nice Christmas this year.

 

[The Slugmonster]

[quote author=Hardcastle link=topic=37586.msg1003533#msg1003533 date=1259677953]
We pay the cunts 4X more than Utd do?
[/quote]

But Michael Owen was so money hungry he played the role of his own agent!!