Players at five West Midland football clubs have been paid a total of £506 million in wages over the past five years, figures released today reveal.

West Bromwich Albion spent £92,607,000 on wages and made a profit of £21,203,000 before being relegated from the Premier League. The club took £143,648,000 in income.

Newly promoted Wolverhampton Wanderers paid players £74,465,000 out of its £120,095,000 income, leaving profits of £15,693,000 while still in the Championship.

League One Walsall made an overall loss of £729,000 over five years despite taking £28,348,000 in income. Players were paid £15,934,000. The club made a £408,000 profit last year.

Aston Villa paid £198,797,000 in wages while Birmingham City paid its players £124,850,000.

Figures were compiled by Deloitte as part of its annual football survey. Nationally 92 football clubs struggle with their finances and are making cuts but most West Midland teams have seen ticket sales rise. Accountants PKF said clubs were suffering from a loss of merchandising and corporate hospitality income.