Darragh MacAnthony Has Paid Over £1m For Non-League Investments

Online, November 17, 2010 (Newswire.com) - The recent transfer of Shaun Batt to npower Championship newcomers Millwall was for a £300,000 fee and that amount could double if the Lions continue to be successful and Batt plays a major part in their success. Peterborough United paid a fee of just £5,000 to Fisher Athletic for Batt's services in the summer of 2008.

Midfielder Paul Coutts was recruited from Scottish non-league side Cove Rangers for £25,000 and last season was sold to Preston North End for £350,000, which could double with the add-ons included in the deal.

Winger Alfie Potter was in the Oxford United side that clinched promotion to the Football League and the U's paid £50,000 for his services. Potter joined Peterborough United on a free transfer. All three of the above deals include a 25% sell-on, so the football club have a vested interest in the futures of the trio.

Darragh MacAnthony has also revealed that the fee for the 93-day emergency loan of George Boyd to Nottingham Forest was £350,000 and confirmed loan fees of £25,000 were paid to Peterborough United for the services of Scott Rendell and Rene Howe by Torquay United and Gillingham respectively.

AFC Bournemouth paid £25,000 as part of Shwan Jalal's move from London Road to Dean Court after they clinched promotion from League Two and £50,000 was paid by Norwich City as part of Russell Martin's move to Carrow Road after the Canaries won promotion from League One. Luton Town paid £60,000 for the loan services of Liam Hatch.

Peterborough United Director of Football Barry Fry said: 'It has been a very successful period. Over the last three years the chairman Darragh MacAnthony has turned down offers of over £6 million for George Boyd, Craig Mackail-Smith and Aaron Mclean, which shows Darragh MacAnthony's passion and commitment for this football club and his desire not to sell his best players.

'There is no doubt that the club's policy, set up by Darragh MacAnthony, of investing in non-league, young, hungry players has paid off handsomely and we will continue to have this policy at the football club, which is backed by the manager Gary Johnson,' Fry said.