Premiership clubs must open books on agent fees - Foster

10.06.42pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 17th Jul 2006

Premiership football clubs have been told they should open their books on the amount of money paid to agents, who are taking as much as £150 million a year out of the game.

Ahead of this week's transfer flurry, analysis by the Liberal Democrats has demonstrated how little is known about the amount paid out to agents every year.

Liberal Democrat Shadow Sports Spokesman, Don Foster MP, who revealed the figures, said "Agents' fees are a black hole in football's finances, one which desperately needs to have some light shone upon it. Fans deserve to know where their hard-earned money is going.

"Yet this research shows that the top clubs' secrecy means that nobody knows what the true cost of agents is.

"The Premiership needs to follow the example of the Football League and show fans their agent bill."