The latest Football League Agents' Fees Report has revealed that the amount of money being committed to agents by League Clubs during the first half of the season has fallen by 28% on last year.

In total, League Clubs committed to pay £5.7m to agents between August and December 2008, compared to £7.9m for the second half of 2007.A third of League Clubs (24) did not commit any money at all to agents.

Football League Chairman, Lord Mawhinney, said: "Given the severe economic recession, it is encouraging to see these figure declining.

"Part of this decrease is likely to be a consequence of the new agents' regulations introduced by the FA. These prohibit Clubs from making one-off payments to players which they then use to pay their agent's fees.The upshot is that, in some cases, agents' fees will have been absorbed into player salaries instead.

"I am encouraged that the FA took the decision to suspend this element of their regulations during the recent transfer window and I would encourage them to continue to do so.

"Overall, I believe the publication of agents' fees, along with the more recent decision to prohibit the practice of 'Dual Representation,' has brought much greater levels of transparency and integrity to the transfer system.

"To most people it will seem sensible that where agents are working on behalf of players, they get paid by players. And when they work for clubs they get paid by Clubs."

The report reveals that Clubs committed to pay agents in 9% (141) of the 1,650 player transactions that took place during the reporting period, collectively committing a sum of £5,707,695.

Championship Clubs accounted for 84% (£4.8m) of this total, with League 1 and League 2 Clubs accounting for 13% (£740k) and 3% (£159k) respectively.

To view the latest agents fees report, click here