The Football League has reported its clubs cut their spending on agent fees in the second half of 2005. The fourth report into agent fees comes days after Luton boss Mike Newell alleged football is rife with transfer bungs - a claim the FA is looking into.
League clubs spent �4.4m on agent fees, in handling 1,765 player transactions, compared to �5m in 2004.
The League are also devising new rules to stop agents representing both player and club in a deal, said the report.
In March, League clubs will consider proposed new rules to stop an agent adopting this dual representation during a single transaction.
If agreed the regulations could be imposed before the start of next season.
League clubs paid agents in 13% of all deals between July and December 2005 with Championship clubs accounting for 85% (�3.7m) of that figure.
The report also showed 21 clubs did not pay any money to agents at all.
"I am encouraged we have seen a reduction in the amount being paid to agents," said Football League chairman Lord Mawhinney.
"This issue remains at the very top of the Football League's agenda and we will continue to act in an open and transparent way.
"By putting these figures into the public arena League clubs have provided the catalyst for a wider debate about the role of agents in football."
Lord Mawhinney has also offered to meet Newell privately to discuss his allegations about the negative role of agents within the game.
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The issue of agent fees remains at the very top of the Football League's agenda and we will continue to act in an open and transparent way
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