Hartlepool United amongst the top non-league spenders in agent's fees behind Harrogate Town and Notts County

Gime Toure of Hartlepool United rues a missed chance during the Vanarama National League match between Hartlepool United and Stockport County at Victoria Park, Hartlepool on Saturday 25th January 2020. (Credit: Mark Fletcher | MI News)

Between February 2019 and January 2020, Hartlepool spent a total of £24,562 on agent’s fees for 10 players, up from £18,369 the year prior. This is according to figures released by the Football Association this week.

The intermediaries for David Edgar, Nicke Kabamba, Ryan Donaldson, Gavan Holohan, Michael Raynes, Ben Killip, Gime Toure, Luke Molyneux, Gus Mafuta and Aidan Keena were paid an average of just under £2,500 each. Six of those 10 players are still contracted at Victoria Park.

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And across the National League, only second-placed Harrogate Town and third-placed Notts County spent more on intermediaries over the same period with £29,417 and £69,028 paid out respectively.

Yet 41 of the 68 clubs across the National League’s three divisions didn’t pay anything to agents over the year. Only 11 clubs paid more than £10,000 and four, including Pools, paid more than £20,000.

Hartlepool’s near £25,000 expenditure on agent’s fees is more than five League Two sides with Morecambe (£18,178), Crewe Alexandra (£3,000), Oldham Athletic (£2,570) Crawley Town (£1,000) and Macclesfield Town (£825) all paying considerably less.

In League One, only Rochdale (£15,390) and Bolton Wanderers (£0) spent less. In contrast, Sunderland were the third tier’s highest spenders with £1,346,373 paid out to agents over the year.

Back between 2016 and 2017, Forest Green Rovers dished out a non-league record of £174,613 to agents.

The latest figures from the FA show that a total of £319,634 was spent by non-league clubs – here is the breakdown:

Notts County – £69,028

Harrogate Town – £29,417

Hartlepool United – £24,562

Wrexham – £22,080

Yeovil Town – £19,837

Solihull Moors – £16,536

Chesterfield – £16,090

Dagenham & Redbridge – £14,900

Eastleigh – £14,007

Barnet – £13,750

Sutton United – £10,267

Fylde – £9,550

Barrow – £8,458

Torquay United – £8,283

Dover Athletic – £7,229

York City – £6,130

Stockport County – £5,445

Halifax Town – £5,115

Hereford – £3,500

Ebbsfleet United – £3,453

Kidderminster Harriers – £3,250

Maidstone United – £1,872

Guiseley – £1,800

Maidenhead United – £1,500

Welling United – £1,500

Boston – £1,250

Dartford – £825