In League One as a whole last season there were a bumper total of 935 player transactions, the total agents' fees for however many of those deals involved payments to an agent being a massive £1,930,836. Only one club in League One, in Hartlepool United, not committing to pay the services of a licensed agent in those twelve months, that the same situation in the third tier it was in the 2010-11 season.
So, onto Carlisle's wheeling and dealings in the 2011-12 campaign, well with a good disciplinary and injury record through the majority of last season the Cumbrians were only involved in 27 total player transactions, the third lowest behind Tranmere Rovers and Walsall in League One. Those spilt into 13 new registrations or transfers, four updated contracts, one cancelled contracts and nine loan signings. United then spending £19,000 on agents' fees in those deals.
Elsewhere in League One meanwhile there were some hefty agents' fees being thrown about, the top three being with Sheffield Wednesday at £332,620, Charlton Athletic at £265,170 and MK Dons at £249,180, while Huddersfield were also over the £200,000 mark and Bournemouth, Brentford and Sheffield United were well over the £100,000 line. While Bournemouth's massive squad reshuffle over the season saw them come out in the lead transactions-wise with a hefty 67 across the campaign.
As for the low spenders, well apart from Hartlepool, Colchester United, Exeter City, Oldham Athletic, Rochdale, Stevenage, Tranmere Rovers, Walsall and Yeovil Town all spent less on fees for an agent than Carlisle, the Blues coming 15th in the table for overall spend as 15 clubs came in under the £50,000 mark. Leyton Orient meanwhile spending bang on £50,000 while Preston North End were up with the big boys at £91,125.
As for the Football League as a whole the amount committed to agents has gone up by £5 million to £21.7m between July 2011 and June 2012 against £16.7m for the 2010-11 campaign. Recession? What recession! Nearly all of that increase came in the Championship though where spending was up £4.6m on the previous season as it hit £18.7m, with West Ham United leading the way, by over £2.5m from Leicester City, across the Football League on an enormous £4,314,270.
The split divisional figures being Championship - £18.7m (86.31%), League One - £1.93m (8.91%) and League Two just £1.036m (4.78%), although Swindon Town contributed to almost half the League Two amount in spending a frankly ridiculous £448,506. Five clubs can hold their hat high in not contributing to those figures though as, alongside Hartlepool, Accrington Stanley, AFC Wimbledon, Barnet and Crewe Alexandra did not spend any money on agents' fees throughout the whole season.
The spreadsheet for all divisions can be found here