HEREFORD United have reiterated their policy of not paying agents for their role in player transfers.

According to figures releas-ed by the Football League, £206,136 was paid to agents by League Two clubs between July 1 and December 31, 2007.

But the Bulls were one of 15 clubs who did not pay for the services of a licensed agent during that period, a stance Hereford also took for the same period in 2006.

United's policy is in stark contrast to their promotion rivals as league leaders MK Dons and second-placed Dar-lington paid £76,555 and £30,030 to agents respectively.

Yet United are still sitting third in the table and are on course for automatic promotion, thanks in no small part to the wheeling and dealing of manager Graham Turner who has pulled off some inspired signings this season through the loan system without parting with cash to agents.

The likes of Lionel Ains-worth, Toumani Diagouraga, Theo Robinson and Lee Collins have all played a part in Hereford's success, while strikers Gary Hooper and Sh-erjill MacDonald have proved inspirational in recent games.

The Bulls' chief said: "We have got the policy that if a player comes here wishing to sign and he has an agent it's the players' responsibility to pay him, not us.

"We don't see the need to employ agents for anything."

But he admitted: "We have probably lost one or two players with that stance."

Overall, £7,930,378 was paid to agents across the Champion-ship, League One and Two.

Leicester City's £1,067,084 accounted for the largest proportion of that amount.