Graeme Jones is optimistic about the remainder of the transfer window, despite admitting that trying to operate with financial restrictions has been difficult to date.
Luton were yesterday heavily linked with a £100,000 swoop for Hartlepool United defender Peter Kioso, who was previously at Dunstable Town.
But the Hatters manager has said numerous occasions how challenging the January transfer window has been so far, as he searches for players with Championship experience to help haul his side off the foot of the Championship.
Sunday’s 3-1 reverse at Nottingham Forest was Town’s tenth away-day defeat on the spin – their worst run for 92 years – and they’re now seven points adrift of safety after Stoke City shocked promotion tips West Bromwich Albion on Monday night.
Luton are three days into a nine-day period of recovery and preparation ahead of the visit of Derby County to Kenilworth Road on Tuesday.
Asked on Sunday if he was hopeful of making his first signings, Jones said: “I really hope so because we need some help. I’ve been saying it for a while and it’s not for the want of trying I can assure you, from my point of view, Mick’s (Harford) point of view and the club’s point of view.
“It’s just that we’re limited in terms of finance. We can’t sign Virgil van Djik for £75million in a January transfer window, so we’ve got to try to think and act different to everyone else and it has proved difficult in these opening 19 days of the January window, but there are 12 to go so I’d rather be optimistic.”
Jones also reiterated his desire to get Izzy Brown, Callum McManaman, Martin Cranie and Danny Hylton back fit to help the Hatters survival bid .
He said: “Until we get them fit then I can’t rest. When we get them fit, I know that seven weeks ago we were a competitive Championship team.
“We’ve been on a really, really difficult run since then and we’ve got to get them fit.”
