The fact is that ME & SC are not football people. They may be good in other areas but football is not a normal business it needs to have a solid supporter base . That is not at present here due to the poor season gone and the lack of investment in new players this season . RK reduced the wage bill as he was told to do brought money in from sales which the supporters thought would and should be used to improve the playing squad . It has not happened so any increase in support is going to be slow to materialise if it does at all ! All ambition for promotion seems to be out of the window with the lack of cover in the squad . We cannot expect to progress to far with such meagre resources even after showing such a vast improvement on last seasons displays !

I have to say the money was there for Keane at the start and some of the players that were brought in were not the best.
Priskin Martin were expencive buy and are on good money so we cant put all the blame on Clegg and ME if we are saying they are not football people.
They all say it takes time to build a side so Keane has had 12 months so far.
If you look how much money keane has spent on players in that time we cant really say the money has not been put up plus the fact ME has just brought the club and took on the debt (reported 44 million) Keane spend nearly 4 Miliion last year on Martin and Priskin

Our squad was too big last season, lots of dead wood so with a couple of additional loans, the right ones, I reckon that will be about right.

I really do despair at some of the comments on here and the negativity that is prevailing. We are 5th in the table and have an owner that saved the Club from going bust. I don't blame Evans for not spending anymore - he's probably spent 12M already with wages and look how Keane wasted his money last season. I suspect Evans will wait until January see how we are doing and then perhaps open his cheque book. Heavens I'm in depression reading these posts when we should be riding on the crest of a wave. Yes it may go awry but lets enjoy where we are and back the club not keep moaning and groaning.

I agree with the other posters that there could be some lucrative loans signings to be had once the Prem Teams announce their 25, and these loans could potentially become permanent signings if they were to do well for us and not be required by the parent club.
I know Keane said at the end of last season that he didn't want to rely on loanees again, but after this promising start i'd rather we get a classy loan or 2 to provide strength in depth, than fork out over the odds in a desperate last-minute "big name" signing which could potentially disrupt our squad that's finally taking shape...the communication and gelling on the pitch in the last few games is leaps & bounds beyond last season.

Well, I'm glad. The squad was too big last season, and it seems just about the right size now, particularly when the injured players return. And if we're short in some areas, then have faith in the youngsters - that's what this club has always been about. When Mariner or Brazil were injured, we'd call up D'Avray or Turner, not fork out millions on someone else's reserves - and Keane's willingness to give young players a go is the most pleasing aspect of his management of the club so far, in my opinion.

There's been lots of talk of wages being the main factor but you have to remember that fulop and Scotland came from the premier league and are therefore no doubt on more than any other of our players. Plus I doubt Kennedy is cheap. This Is one problem where not looking at lower leagues or abroad for bargains may hinder us.
Having said that, I expect that there will be a few loans going on. We definitely need it because any midfield injuries and were into the likes of Healy which is a disaster.

Here here StowTractorBoy, these are promising times. Hell, i'm buzzing at the thought of already taking six points off a promotion favourite and a team that did the double over us last season, and that's away from home too!
What's more we could be on 9/9 if we'd completely shaken off last season's injury-time collywobbles!

I'm going to take this statement with a pinch of salt. I would rather not have expectations built up (as has been happening all sumer), to have them fall flat if we can't get any more players in. Like it that Keane plays down the idea of any further transfer dealings, then brings in a craker jack transfer/ Loan.
Think the comings and going this summer have been almost perfect, yes i would like to have seen greater fees for Stead, Garvan etc, but at least they are off the wage bill, Walters was a superb bit of business, and getting in Kennedy, Fulop and Scotland, look to be sound deals.
COYB

Our transfer dealings this summer have been a complete farce. We've been notoriously bad at this for many seasons but this season's debacle leaves me almost speechless. Yes, our squad was too large last season, and yes, we were carrying a lot of deadwood. Keane has done his bit but ME and Clegg? We are now operating at a considerable net gain in both salaries and transfers money. We all know that we need a right back and we're also a midfielder and a striker short. I would be tempted to give Rosenior a short contract to give him one last chance. He had a few very poor games last season and perhaps needs an attitude transplant but he also had a couple of cracking games.

Notwithstanding that those currently injured will be back eventually (although perhaps not Civelli) our squad is a little thin as Keane has pointed out on many occasions. Norris will soon have a ban, Ledbitter is carrying an injury and is likely to be injured again at some point during the season due to his playing style and I doubt Hyam can maintain his current form indefinitely. So I'm a little worried that all we have to plug the gaps when they do come are Quinn and Healy.

What surprises me most though is the complete lack of ambition being shown by ME and Clegg. After such a good start a single top signing would get us all buzzing and attendances would I'm sure go up. All the talk, hype and expectation that built up during the transfer window and what have we got? 3 permanent signings for £825k (reported), one of which is for the future, and 2 decent loanees, one of which is an inexperienced kid albeit with potential.

In summary, I'm really, really disappointed and so yet another letter will be on its way to Clegg tomorrow (for what good it will do but at least it will get things off my chest and he always responds!). I can only hope that what Clegg and Keane have said recently is more about managing our expectation and that they're really in talks with a couple of quality players but want to keep it low key!!!

We have got off to a decent start. Better than I thought we would but I still would have preferred a few more signings to complement what we already have and who we have lost. I have faith that the players we have will do their best and I support them 100%

However, the jury is still out on our headcase nutjob of a manager, our clueless Cleggy and Mystery Marcus !!!!

Are none of you reading between the lines?

I quote.... "I wouldn't expect any players coming in and I'd be very surprised, looking at my group of players and where we're at, if anyone was to go out, unless anyone made a very good offer, which I suppose goes for every club.”

Thought he wanted 4 players and what has happened to the 3 mill for Walters. the Scotland deal was done before Walters moved to Stoke!!

I be honest i thought that said Keane : Quits. . *whew*

That looks like the Chopra deal is dead in the water and the Adam Le Fondre rumours were unfounded..........unless RK is keeping his cards close to his chest.

A top signing early on would have boosted season ticket sales, instead all we got was bust ups with the manager and players wanting to leave.

No point in buying players just for the sake of it. Save the money for january when we need it more. COYB!!

We seem to be paying for last year's wastleful spending! Agree it is pointless to be buying for the sake of buying. Lets hope some useful loanees emerge next week.

If money really is this tight, why did we buy Fulop at a cost of around £2.3M over his two year contract? We must be the only club in the football league with as many goalkeepers (Fulop, Murphy, Lee-Barrett, McLoughlan) as strikers (Wickham, Scotland, Priskin, Murray).

So, 6 strikers out (D.Healy, D.Murphy, Lisbie, Counago, Walters, Stead) and 1 in (Scotland). I don't exactly see that we have the players to fire us to promotion.

All i can say is BLACKPOOL done it with the smallest squad and know budget, So i think we have some very good players and some quality young players who will all stand up and be counted, Im not disagreeing it would be lovely to have a team full of Prem quality but we haven't so lets just get on with it. Another thing that's really done my head in is people on hear moaning about the Team, Owners and Manager and never go and watch Ipswich i cant believe 2000 people haven't renewed there season tickets its a scandal you should be ashamed to think the SCUM have about 20000 season tickets sold and have one of the best away supports in the country including Prem even when they got relegated they sold more season tickets than us, Very BAD!!, For all you people out there who dont go Ii dont believe your comments matter anyway so you should wind ya necks in and either go and support our team or JOG ON!! Sorry rant over.
COYB!!!!!

Im very very disappointed with this statement.

We have brought in over 3.5 million in transfer sales.....walters, garvan, stead etc

Saving probably in the region of 100k per week on wages and with all due respect to him, - Only have Jason Scotland and Martin Fulop to show for this.

The Lad Townsend from Spurs wont be demanding a large wage either.

Keano only said last week he was looking to bring in 3 permanent transfers....

PERHAPS MR 'STEPTOE' CLEGG would like to EXPLAIN this.

1 very Pssssssd off 'new' season ticket holder! - Thte squad is too thin and we wont last the pace.

RANT OVER ;-)

I disagree with almost everyone.
This is the perfect public statement.
How many times have we doubled the price of a player by saying we "must" get X.
Even if we don't buy anyone - it is unsettling to have the speculation. We'll be a better team for less money in the long run if we stop pandering to the media demand for a story.

Tractorog................

If you disagree with everyone you would probably get on very well with my ex wife and mother in law.

are we completeley broke again???? the vibe isnt good here!! the scotland transfer and his wages would be covered by the 200k sales we made and the wages we got of the books so where is the walters cash and th ME ambition we been promised, maybe were still feeling the effects of the magilton era. atleast we got a good start this season.

This story is realling showing we have good fans. . .
Get behind the club you prawn sandwich eaters.
We have bought in 5 'GOOD' players, and got rid of the sh*te we didn't need!

Alan Lee has gone to hudersfield... last i heard it was supose to be part of a swap deal for Jordan Rhides but i dont think hes gone has he...? would be ace if we bought him back lol