Bolton Wanderers manager Sam Allardyce has been told by the clubs directors that he will have to wheel and deal during the next month as there is very little money for him to bring in new players to add to his squad.
The Trotters manager has used the fewest players in the Premiership during the 2003-2004 season and can ill afford a lengthy injury or suspension list as there is no adequate cover for replacements. He had identified the players which he wants to bring to the Reebok Stadium but says it is all a question of finding the right players which would be within Wanderers financial reach.
"We know who we're after but it's about whether we can afford them. It's the old story. I have to present a player [to the chairman] and then I find out whether I can afford him or not.
"The financial restrictions are a problem because I don't have a budget. If find a player and the club tries to find the money and that makes life difficult.
Allardyce had hoped to have new faces on board for the first week of January but once again, as was the case last year he has been told he has to move players out before bringing any new faces in.
"If I'd had a budget I could have concluded all our business in the first week or two, which is what I was hoping to do. But I have to be patient, which is something I'm not good at. But it won't stop me wheeling and dealing."
Athletico Madrid striker Javi Moreno and Celtic defender Johan Mjallby had been linked with moves to the club last month but no new faces can be brought in until other players are moved off the clubs wage bill. Danny Livesey, Jonathan Walters, Jermaine Johnson, Gareth Farrelly and Derek Niven are all out on loan from the club whilst Burnley are continuing to be linked to Delroy Facey, whom they had on loan in September.
The Trotters manager has used the fewest players in the Premiership during the 2003-2004 season and can ill afford a lengthy injury or suspension list as there is no adequate cover for replacements. He had identified the players which he wants to bring to the Reebok Stadium but says it is all a question of finding the right players which would be within Wanderers financial reach.
"We know who we're after but it's about whether we can afford them. It's the old story. I have to present a player [to the chairman] and then I find out whether I can afford him or not.
"The financial restrictions are a problem because I don't have a budget. If find a player and the club tries to find the money and that makes life difficult.
Allardyce had hoped to have new faces on board for the first week of January but once again, as was the case last year he has been told he has to move players out before bringing any new faces in.
"If I'd had a budget I could have concluded all our business in the first week or two, which is what I was hoping to do. But I have to be patient, which is something I'm not good at. But it won't stop me wheeling and dealing."
Athletico Madrid striker Javi Moreno and Celtic defender Johan Mjallby had been linked with moves to the club last month but no new faces can be brought in until other players are moved off the clubs wage bill. Danny Livesey, Jonathan Walters, Jermaine Johnson, Gareth Farrelly and Derek Niven are all out on loan from the club whilst Burnley are continuing to be linked to Delroy Facey, whom they had on loan in September.