From the Argus today - looks quite encouraging. I think there is more money available than we all thought. £100,000 for a player if his wages were low.
Albion boss Steve Coppell is content to bide his time in the hunt for more new signings.
He has money available but is prepared to wait until landing the right type of player.
Coppell has lost star striker Bobby Zamora to Spurs for £1.5 million, winger Paul Brooker to Leicester on a Bosman free transfer, centre half Dean Blackwell through injury and veteran keeper Dave Beasant, who rejected a new contract offer.
He has signed former Charlton custodian Ben Roberts on a two-year deal, forward Leon Knight on loan from Chelsea for two months and rookie frontman Carl Wilson-Denis for three months.
Coppell's biggest challenge is replacing Zamora's goals, particularly as the budget he agreed with chairman Dick Knight already excluded his sale.
"When we were discussing me staying he showed me a projected budget and Bobby wasn't in that, so I knew I wouldn't have his fee or wages," Coppell said.
"I still have a certain amount of money but I don't want to spend it just because it is available. That is not in my nature.
"The way I have worked in the lower leagues is to get the best for what I can. I look at any player in terms of can I get a deal on him, is he better than what we have got, is he going to give us something we haven't got?
"Until I see people who fit that criteria I am quite happy sitting on the money, because I know it's going to help me later in the year.
"I've got a budget for the year so if I am cute I can fiddle it around. Are we in the market for buying a quarter of a million pound player? Absolutely not.
"We might just be able to squeeze a £100,000 player if his wage demands aren't big, so I've got a little bit of leeway at the moment.
"But in an ideal world it is just for wages, rather than a fee and wages, which is why I couldn't risk Steve Hunt going to a tribunal."
Coppell wanted to re-sign Hunt from his old club Brentford, but they would not give the former Republic of Ireland under-21 international a free transfer and he has signed a new contract with the Bees.
Coppell has ruled out a move for experienced Sheffield United forward Iffy Onuora. "I phoned up Neil Warnock, because they have got a lot of forwards, and asked who was available.
"He mentioned a couple of players including Iffy Onuora and the next minute I am being linked with him all the time. I never gave him (Warnock) any encouragement that I would be interested, so it's not really an option."
Albion boss Steve Coppell is content to bide his time in the hunt for more new signings.
He has money available but is prepared to wait until landing the right type of player.
Coppell has lost star striker Bobby Zamora to Spurs for £1.5 million, winger Paul Brooker to Leicester on a Bosman free transfer, centre half Dean Blackwell through injury and veteran keeper Dave Beasant, who rejected a new contract offer.
He has signed former Charlton custodian Ben Roberts on a two-year deal, forward Leon Knight on loan from Chelsea for two months and rookie frontman Carl Wilson-Denis for three months.
Coppell's biggest challenge is replacing Zamora's goals, particularly as the budget he agreed with chairman Dick Knight already excluded his sale.
"When we were discussing me staying he showed me a projected budget and Bobby wasn't in that, so I knew I wouldn't have his fee or wages," Coppell said.
"I still have a certain amount of money but I don't want to spend it just because it is available. That is not in my nature.
"The way I have worked in the lower leagues is to get the best for what I can. I look at any player in terms of can I get a deal on him, is he better than what we have got, is he going to give us something we haven't got?
"Until I see people who fit that criteria I am quite happy sitting on the money, because I know it's going to help me later in the year.
"I've got a budget for the year so if I am cute I can fiddle it around. Are we in the market for buying a quarter of a million pound player? Absolutely not.
"We might just be able to squeeze a £100,000 player if his wage demands aren't big, so I've got a little bit of leeway at the moment.
"But in an ideal world it is just for wages, rather than a fee and wages, which is why I couldn't risk Steve Hunt going to a tribunal."
Coppell wanted to re-sign Hunt from his old club Brentford, but they would not give the former Republic of Ireland under-21 international a free transfer and he has signed a new contract with the Bees.
Coppell has ruled out a move for experienced Sheffield United forward Iffy Onuora. "I phoned up Neil Warnock, because they have got a lot of forwards, and asked who was available.
"He mentioned a couple of players including Iffy Onuora and the next minute I am being linked with him all the time. I never gave him (Warnock) any encouragement that I would be interested, so it's not really an option."
