Graeme Jones is hoping to wheel and deal to get some new recruits in and boost the energy of his Luton side – ideally by Saturday’s FA Cup third round trip to Bournemouth.
The manager saw his side let a first half lead slip to lose 3-1 at Millwall today on the day the transfer window opened.
Talking of added new faces to his squad, Jones said: “I need favours because it will be within our budget. I think everybody in the world of football knows that we need some help. I’ve got to get to work on that now.
“Mick Harford and Kevin Reeves have been working but we’ve got to get some people in, hopefully by Saturday, that’s where we are as a club.
“We all know the difficulties, budget-wise of getting players. It would be easy now if we had millions of pounds to go and shop, but three of four and solve the problem, but we haven’t got that.“
Asked if he has to let players leave to make way for new recruits, Jones said: “There’ll be an element of that. I’m definitely in that position. I’m hoping, initially, to get a couple in, then wheel and deal a little bit.
“I think everybody in football can see that we need some new energy. It’s to help the boys. The boys have given everything they’ve got, they’re just a bit short at the minute.
“The three game weeks and the saturation has caught up with us a little bit.
“Towards the end (of the window), we might have to wheel and deal a little bit. It’s just where we are.
“Initially it will be loans. I’ve got two loans left. I nee to improve the experience of the group, whether that’s from the Premier League or the Championship, it’s very, very difficult on our budget.
“We’re certainly not at the front of the queue, but I knew the challenge a year ago when I agreed to take the job. It’s not easy but it can be done because I’ve been here before at Wigan in the Premier League.
“What happened then was everybody stuck together, we got a little bit of new energy in January, we got everybody fit, kept a level head and I know that if we do that we’ll be competitive in games.”
I hope the players Jones is thinking of bringing in
Are better and fitter than the ones he bought in at
The start of the season.