Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Robins cut fees bill – but still spend nearly £1.4m
BRISTOL City have cut their spending on agent fees and intermediaries over the last year – but are still forking out considerably more than some of their Sky Bet Championship rivals.
The Football Association have released the annual figures from February 2021 to January this year, showing the Robins have paid £1,392,048 to intermediaries – a £189,938 drop in the previous year.
It is the second consecutive year City have dropped that figure, having spent £1,889,161 two years ago.
The figure covers the costs of Nigel
Pearson’s signings ranging from those dates, as well as the contract renewals of current players.
During the period in question, City have welcomed Rob Atkinson from Oxford for £1.4m, and Matty James, Andy King, Timm Klose and Danny Simpson all on free transfers. George Tanner also completed his move to Ashton Gate from Carlisle for an undisclosed fee.
Andi Weimann, Nathan Baker and Alex Scott have signed new contracts, before the announcements of Cam Pring and Chris Martin. Pearson’s agent would have also been paid a fee upon his permanent appointment as manager last April.
A look at their Championship rivals further shows a gulf in finances from clubs receiving parachute payments, particularly Fulham, whose figure is huge compared to the rest of the league.
The Cottagers have spent a quite staggering £10,160,399, followed by West Brom who have paid £4,186,886, Sheffield United (£3,571,417) and Bournemouth (£3,505,603). All four have recently been in the Premier League.
In total, ten Championship sides have paid more than City, meaning 13 clubs are paying less. The lowest is Hull with a total of just £242,986.
Throughout the entirety of the Championship, a total of £44,378,940 was paid, compared to the Premier
League’s figure of £272,559,227 and League One’s £4,426,888.
City have an away game against second-placed Bournemouth this afternoon. The Cherries are eight points behind leaders Fulham, but have a six-point advantage over the chasing pack with at least two games in hand.