Steve Bruce: Aston Villa now have ‘common sense’ approach to paying agents

Figures released this week by the FA revealed Villa paid more to agents in the past year than any other club in the Championship.

Owner Tony Xia paid out £5.5million on intermediaries in the 12-month period between February 2017 and January 31 this year.

But it is understood the vast majority of that sum related to historical deals, with Villa paying out less than £700,000 to agents during the last two transfer windows.

The biggest single fee, of £1.5million, went to the agent of Adama Traore, the winger who moved to Middlesbrough in the summer of 2016.

Bruce said: “I think it proves where the club has been, trying to get back into the Premier League, and what’s happened before that.

“Thankfully now some common sense has come in. I don’t believe in still paying agents for players who are not here.

“That’s obviously been the case, with one highlighted in particular.”

Technical director Steve Round is understood to have been instrumental in Villa reducing the fees they are prepared to pay agents.

Yet the mistakes of the past mean Bruce has been forced to work within a tight financial framework since replacing Roberto Di Matteo as boss in October 2016.

Villa have spent just £2.5million in transfer fees during the last two windows, while a number of players have been moved off the books.

“I understand the situation. It’s what we have all inherited,” said Bruce.

“Clearing up and putting the house in order is part of my job.

“I don’t get involved as much as I used to

“But certainly it’s part of my job because I manage the club and I would try to manage the club how I would manage myself in terms of finances.

“Of course now it’s difficult because the future you go in the game the more shocked you are by money that is available.

“We’re all in it, we all see it, but it’s to the detriment of the game, and certainly the average supporter.

“Especially with so much money going to agents, it’s something that sticks in the craw.”

Bruce continued: “It’s part and parcel of the game, agent fees.

“Of course with anything, there’s good and bad (agents).

“It’s not my position to sit and criticise, they get what they can.

“But we have to deal with them.

“I’m sure every manager will tell you an example of when a deal hasn’t gone through because the agent is not happy.

“Really it should be the other way around, with the player being in control of the agent, but that doesn’t always happen.”