BURNLEY spent almost 19 per cent more on agents fees over the last 12 months compared to the previous year.

That is according to a new Football League report revealing sums committed to agents from Championship, League One and League Two clubs during the 2005/06 season.

From July 2005 to June 2006, the Clarets paid out £250,910, which is almost £40,000 more than the £211,000 sum from July 2004 to June 2005.

Report findings published yesterday further show that Burnley committed £88,000 from a total of 15 transactions from January 1 to June 30, 2006.

Those transactions are made up of six new registrations and transfers, including those of Turf Moor new-boys Alan Mahon and Andy Gray, one cancelled contract and eight loan signings.

But that six-month figure is dwarfed by the whopping £454,500 spent on agents fees by Lancashire rivals Preston North End, £300,000 by fallen giants Southampton and £250,000 by last season's Championship runners-up Sheffield United.

"We know that there are reputable agents who are very much part of football and good for the game," said Clarets chief executive Dave Edmundson.

"But the main thing is the concern of disreputable elements which have occurred in football of late. We've recently seen stories of that.

"We've always supported the Football League in this area."

In a total of 3,284 player transactions throughout the Football League over the past 12 months, only 359 (10.9 percent) were secured with the help of players representatives.

League clubs committed to spending £7,660,028 on agent fees during this period, two percent less than the £7,817,853 committed during 2004/05, of which Championship clubs accounted for 82.3 percent of all monies, with League One making up 12.46 percent.

In all, 16 clubs did not pay any money to agents during the 12-month period under review, eight for the second consecutive season. Luton Town were the only Championship side not to pay over the past six months.

The Football League compliled the report to tighten up the way payments are made to players' agents in transfer deals, in an effort to bring more transparency to the game.

The League obliges its member clubs in the Championship and Leagues One and Two to produce a list every six months of payments to agents.