Town chief executive Derek Bowden has handed his £75,000 performance bonus over to manager Joe Royle to help him bring in new players. Bowden was awarded the cash after the club achieved targets set out by the board's remuneration committee.

A club spokesman says Bowden is keen to see the money put towards bringing in new short-term signings: "At this moment Derek would rather the manager had extra cash to add to his loan fund and to deal with as he sees fit."

Royle welcomed Bowden's gift: "It is a fantastic gesture by Derek and shows how everybody at the club is pulling towards gaining promotion at the end of the season."

Bowden joined Town from Saatchi and Saatchi, where he had been former FA chief Adam Crozier's boss, in July 2002, joining the board four months later.

The chief executive isn't alone amongst board members in helping the club out financially, chairman David Sheepshanks, John Kerr, Richard Moore and Roger Finbow have all provided interest-free loans.

In addition, Sheepshanks recently took out a £50,000 loan note.

Royle, who celebrates two years as Town boss today, has long been on the look-out for loan players to add to his squad, with central defence and midfield his priorities.

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