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Hammers top agent fee list

Image: Sam Allardyce: West Ham spent big as they secured promotion back to the Premier League

The latest publication of spending on agents' fees by Football League clubs has been released, with West Ham accounting for almost a fifth of the total.

Football League clubs spent £21.7m on agents' fees in 2011/12

The latest publication of spending on agents' fees by Football League clubs has been released, with West Ham accounting for almost a fifth of the total. Clubs across the three divisions spent a total of £21.7million during the 2011/12 campaign. Championship clubs made up £18.7m of that figure, with League One and Two clubs spending £1.8m and £0.9m respectively. Agents received payment in 702 of the 3,144 player transactions that took place, just 22 per cent of deals. Five clubs - Hartlepool, Accrington, AFC Wimbledon, Barnet and Crewe - did not spend any money on agents' fees, while a further 22 teams spent last than £25,000.

Business plan

West Ham, though, splashed out £4.31m in completing 69 transactions. Only three other clubs broke through the £1m barrier - Leicester (£1.81m), Reading (£1.66m) and Crystal Palace (£1.17m). In announcing the figures, Football League chairman Greg Clarke said: "While £21m 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. In fact, almost a fifth of the overall figure was spent by one club alone. "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. "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."

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