Sir Brian Mawhinney hopes to increase debate over agents

The League's second Agents' Fees report showed Leeds paid out �1,553,688 to agents as they slashed their squad after relegation from the Premiership.

Football League chairman Sir Brian Mawhinney hopes the report will prompt debate over the role of agents.

"Too much money is leaving football through payments to agents," he said.

"This report strengthens the argument of those who believe that football needs an effective regulatory framework to ensure a level playing field for clubs when negotiating with players.

We fully expect to see a massive reduction in payments to agents in the period that follows A Leeds statement

"Deals using agents need to be more transparent, not least so that supporters can understand when agents are genuinely helping clubs to behave with financial responsibility."

The report showed an increase of over �3.6m in expenditure compared to the equivalent period ending last June - although it includes the pre-season transfer activity of August.

But Mawhinney said: "This report covers a period during which the transfer market is traditionally busy as clubs, including those whose divisional status has changed, shape their squads for the new season.

TRANSACTIONS JUL-DEC 2004 Total agents' fees: 5,024,789 (1,412,437 in Jan-Jul) Total transactions: 1,498 (963) Agent transactions: 257 (119) 26 clubs paid less than �5000 to agents 16 clubs did not commit any money to agents Top spenders: Leeds �1.5m, Leicester 0.4m, Wolves 0.3m

"Therefore these figures were always likely to be higher than for theprevious six months and I would expect that pattern to continue."

Championship clubs made 88% of the �5,024,789 total, an amount swollen significantly by Leeds' problems in off-loading their high-earningstars.

Although the Yorkshiremen side spent over �1m more than fellow relegated clubs Wolves and Leicester during the six-month period ending in December, Leeds believe it was neccessary to cut their costly wage wage bill by �20m.

"We feel that the saving of �27.2m justifies the �7.8m payments committed, of which agents have received or are due to receive �1.1m," Leeds said in a statement.

"We fully expect to see a massive reduction in payments to agents in the reporting periods that follow."

The League's figures show that clubs committed to pay agents in 275 transfer transactions during the six-month period, representing 17% of all transfer activity.

Through the League's three divisions, just 16 clubs did not pay any money to agents over the term of the report.

Crewe Alexandra were the only Championship club not to spend anything.