Figures to reveal agents' influence

A leading football agent has defended his profession on the eve of a new report which will reveal a huge rise in the level of transfer payments made by clubs to third parties.

The Football League’s second half-yearly Agents Report is expected to show its clubs paid £5m (€7.1m) to agents over the past six months – an increase of £3.6m (€5.1m) on the total for the equivalent period up to June.