Barnsley Football Club spent over a quarter of a million pounds in agents fees in the last year over 45 transactions.
It meant the club was the 13th highest in the Championship when it came to agents fees. The total amount of £317,300 from the 1st June 2009 to the 30th June 2010 arose from 17 transfers, eight updated contracts, seven cancelled contracts and 13 loans.
Those fees were nothing compared to the divisions highest spenders. Relegated Middlesbrough and Newcastle spent over £1m on agents fees, and while it helped Newcastle gain a swift return to the Premier League, it did nothing for Boro who finished a lowly 11th. Meanwhile Blackpool proved that you don’t have to line the pockets of agents to gain success. The Tangerines who gained promotion via the play-offs in May were the second lowest spenders in agents fees (just ahead of Scunthorpe) as they paid out just £40,000 in nine transactions- only four of which were transfers, the lowest in the division. Overall the 72 Football League clubs paid out £12m to agents in the last year.