' Cardiff City chief Ken Choo speaks publicly '

Cardiff City chief Ken Choo speaks publicly to explain huge amount of money spent on agents' fees

2 DEC 2015


BY STEVE TUCKER


Choo has now revealed further details of why the club handed over nearly £3m to agents between October, 2014, and September 30 this year


Cardiff City chief executive Ken Choo has moved to try and dispel the confusion surrounding the club’s Championship-topping payments to agents.

Official figures released this week showed Cardiff spent more than any other Football League club on agents fees over the last two transfer windows. The Bluebirds paid agents £2,828,133 between October 1, 2014, and September 30 this year.

That put them ahead of anyone else including big-spending Championship clubs Fulham (£2,735,336), Reading (£2,391,666) and QPR (£2,361,742).

The figures caused some consternation as they come at a time when manager Russell Slade is operating under a much-reduced transfer budget at the club.

Cardiff City agents' fees (last two transfer windows)
£2,828,133
Spent



This summer saw the Bluebirds relatively quiet in the transfer window, with Sammy Ameobi (loan), Semi Ajayi (free), Gabriel Tamas (unattached) and Idriss Saadi (undisclosed) the only new faces.

In the January 2015 window, Scott Malone, Alex Revell, Lee Peltier, Stuart O’Keefe, Eoin Doyle and Matthew Kennedy all arrived, but on relatively low fees.

Cardiff City fans were confused by the figures given the lack of big signings


After WalesOnline revealed many of the payments related to signings made by Slade’s predecessors , chief executive Choo has now revealed some of the money was owed from when players signed new contracts at the club or received loyalty bonuses.

“Basically the figure reveals the cash-flow to agents within the specified period,” said Choo.

“It does not just refer to signings made by us in the last two transfer windows but also, some of it, is from signings by Russell’s predecessors too.

“There were payments made too when a player signs a new contract, like David Marshall did, or loyalty fees for players as agents will receive a percentage of those as well.

"I can see where confusion may arise but that is just the total amount paid by us over that period and may refer to different deals and situations than those just appearing to be in that timeframe.”

Cardiff City chiefs spent nearly £3million on agents fees

Choo was appointed by club owner Vincent Tan as Bluebirds’ chief executive back in June 2014 and has been working to simplify and clarify the club’s financial dealings ever since.

He told WalesOnline plans were very much in place now for the club’s movement in the forthcoming January transfer window and that he believed strides had been taken to bring more clarity to business operations at the club.

Choo added: “Things are very transparent and clear now moving forward and that is to the benefit of the club in general.”

Championship clubs' agents fees (between October 1, 2014, and September 30, 2015)
Cardiff City - £2,828,133
Fulham - £2,735,336
Reading - £2,391,666
QPR - £2,361,742
Hull City- £1,813,919
Nottingham Forest - £1,440,730
Burnley - £1,363,831
Blackburn Rovers - £1,254,610
Derby County - £1,102,071
Bolton Wanderers - £964,869
Brighton & Hove Albion - £912,421
Middlesbrough - £850,285
Wolverhampton Wanderers - £849,600
Sheffield Wednesday - £792,203
Leeds United - £786,897
MK Dons - £672,371
Charlton Athletic - £656,759
Brentford - £600,636
Birmingham City - £443,570
Huddersfield Town - £429,343
Ipswich Town - £261,347
Bristol City - £231,316
Preston North End - £194,961
Rotherham United - £185,430

He doesn't really explain anything...all other clubs will have the same, loyalty bonus, new contract extensions etc

He doesn't explain how and why our payments to agents are so much more than other similar championship sides!!!

Just admit it is financial incompetence by the club

He doesn't really explain anything...all other clubs will have the same, loyalty bonus, new contract extensions etc

He doesn't explain how and why our payments to agents are so much more than other similar championship sides!!!

Just admit it is financial incompetence by the club

Choo is talking like other clubs did not take internal squad agency fees into account when declaring. I guess there must be some kind of conspiracy from the other clubs to show up the regime as incompetent then

He doesn't really explain anything...all other clubs will have the same, loyalty bonus, new contract extensions etc

He doesn't explain how and why our payments to agents are so much more than other similar championship sides!!!

Just admit it is financial incompetence by the club

Choo is talking like other clubs did not take internal squad agency fees into account when declaring. I guess there must be some kind of conspiracy from the other clubs to show up the regime as incompetent then

Sadly we never do get to hear publicly the hard facts,that really matter.

What a rubbish excuse. Whether it's transfer deals, signing on deals or bonuses the fact of the matter is that it's money to agents. When the club is above the likes of QPR then there's a clear problem

well at least Choo, Dalman, Tan and Uncle Fester all have one thing in common, they talk a load of crap but they are sticking to their story!

I think everyone seems to be missing the point here. Choo is explaining that the high figure is due to the erratic spending by MM and Solskjær, because the agents are still receiving fees from those transfers.

I think everyone seems to be missing the point here. Choo is explaining that the high figure is due to the erratic spending by MM and Solskjær, because the agents are still receiving fees from those transfers.

all other clubs in the Division will be making similar payments to agents....what he is not explaining is why ours are so much higher than everyone else in the championship!!!!!

Somebody from the board and/ or chief executive must have negotiated and agreed these ridiculous payments and possibly still are!!!!

It's just financial incompetence from the people in charge

same old shit different month in another year !

I think everyone seems to be missing the point here. Choo is explaining that the high figure is due to the erratic spending by MM and Solskjær, because the agents are still receiving fees from those transfers.

all other clubs in the Division will be making similar payments to agents....what he is not explaining is why ours are so much higher than everyone else in the championship!!!!!

Somebody from the board and/ or chief executive must have negotiated and agreed these ridiculous payments and possibly still are!!!!

It's just financial incompetence from the people in charge

different agents different fees different contracts amount of players bought /sold ect ect, so if can have like for like values then maybe people can compare but simply saying ours is the highest ammount so we are the worse isnt a fair reflection? suppose it is for those who want it to be!!

I think everyone seems to be missing the point here. Choo is explaining that the high figure is due to the erratic spending by MM and Solskjær, because the agents are still receiving fees from those transfers.

Petty much how I read it!

Sadly, a few people (e.g. oohahhPaulMillar above) have such an entrenched opinion on all things financial at the club these days that nothing Choo says will be even half listened to

Forever Blue, as always, puts the information (good or bad) out there for debate and on this occasion it appears early fears may well be just a little less concerning given that the club appear to be giving even David Cameron lessons in austerity at the minute!

I guess the proof of the pudding will be next year's figures, although I would be interested to hear Keith Morgan's view on this matter

I think everyone seems to be missing the point here. Choo is explaining that the high figure is due to the erratic spending by MM and Solskjær, because the agents are still receiving fees from those transfers.

all other clubs in the Division will be making similar payments to agents....what he is not explaining is why ours are so much higher than everyone else in the championship!!!!!

Somebody from the board and/ or chief executive must have negotiated and agreed these ridiculous payments and possibly still are!!!!

It's just financial incompetence from the people in charge

Clearly only a few other clubs not all, are making similar payments otherwise every Championship club would have spent as much as we have.

Choo HAS explained why the figures are so high, it's because of the contract terms of players signed by previous managers which have clauses that the agent will receive payment at certain trigger points.

Fair comment with reference to CEO/Chairman signing off such deals but there again we would have accused the board of not backing the manager if they didn't

He doesn't really explain anything...all other clubs will have the same, loyalty bonus, new contract extensions etc

He doesn't explain how and why our payments to agents are so much more than other similar championship sides!!!

Just admit it is financial incompetence by the club

Choo is talking like other clubs did not take internal squad agency fees into account when declaring. I guess there must be some kind of conspiracy from the other clubs to show up the regime as incompetent then

Sadly we never do get to hear publicly the hard facts,that really matter.

Just like any other business.

well at least Choo, Dalman, Tan and Uncle Fester all have one thing in common, they talk a load of crap but they are sticking to their story!