BRISTOL City chairman Steve Lansdown has promised to back Steve Coppell in the transfer market this summer.

But he has advised the new manager to run with a smaller squad than that assembled by previous boss Gary Johnson.

Already higher than at any time previously in the club's history, the Ashton Gate wage bill was further inflated last season by several new arrivals and a number of expensive loan signings.

Although Lansdown insists there will be no reduction in the wage bill, he said "common sense" must prevail as City brace themselves ahead of what is sure to be a challenging time economically for all Football League clubs.

City have already addressed the problems posed by a top-heavy squad of 32, off-loading Adriano Basso, Steve Collis, Brian Wilson, Lee Trundle, Ashley Kington, Frankie Artus and Tristan Plummer and declining to further their interest in Ajax midfielder Evander Sno and QPR striker Patrick Agyemang.

But others may also have to leave if Coppell is to bring in the higher-quality players that will be needed if the Robins are to challenge for promotion to the Premier League.

Lansdown explained: "I'm not saying this is set in stone, but my ideal would be a first-team squad of 24. That would involve 21 outfield players and three goalkeepers.

"I'm not saying Steve Coppell has to sell before he can buy – he can keep whoever he wants and the last thing I want is to put him under any pressure. But numbers are an issue and it stands to reason that, if you want to bring in better players, you have to cut elsewhere. We had too many loan signings last season and it became difficult keeping all the players happy. Too many of them were either sitting on the sidelines or out on loan at lower league clubs.

"We're committed to running with a smaller squad in next season and the new manager understands and is in full agreement with that."

Coppell took up his new post today and was set for a series of meetings with chief executive Colin Sexstone and assistant manager Keith Millen aimed at identifying transfer targets and establishing how much money will be made available.

It seems reasonable to assume that Coppell will seek to move more players on in a bid to free up cash for new signings.

Millen has already made public City's wish to recruit a third goalkeeper to provide competition for Dean Gerken and Stephen Henderson, while Coppell will this week decide whether to open negotiations with Gary Sawyer's representatives. Out of contract at relegated Plymouth Argyle, the 24-year-old left-back is hoping to earn himself a permanent move to Ashton Gate following a successful loan spell. Sources suggest Coppell is also in the market for a striker to partner top-scorer Nicky Maynard and a centre-half.