NEW manager Keith Millen insists Bristol City will not be held to ransom in the transfer market.

Short of attacking options because of injuries to key players, the 43-year-old Londoner is working hard behind the scenes to recruit at least one striker before the transfer window closes at the end of this month.

Eager to add to his squad ahead of tomorrow's home npower Championship clash with Barnsley, Millen says he is not prepared to pay the vastly inflated fees quoted by agents and rival clubs.

Despite being linked with a number of centre forwards in recent days, among them Ipswich marksman Jon Stead, Wolves raider Andy Keogh and Derby County striker Luke Varney, Millen has been unable to replenish his resources.

And he is now resigned to going into tomorrow's npower Championship clash against Barnsley at Ashton Gate with an unchanged side.

Impatient at a perceived lack of activity in the marketplace, supporters are concerned that money is an issue and that Millen lacks the pulling power of Steve Coppell, his predecessor as manager.

But Millen refutes any such suggestion, preferring to lay the blame firmly at the door of greedy clubs and agents.

He said: "I can assure the fans it is not a money issue. The chairman (Steve Lansdown) has been fantastic and, if the deal is right, he will do it.

"But we won't be held to ransom and made to pay silly money. Like any club, we will have our own valuation of a player and we will try and stick to that.

"It's definitely not a financial issue with us and it's not because of me. The players I have spoken to and met know about our ambition and are more than happy that this club has a bright future.

"Players speak to players and they find out what a club is like and, if you ask anyone, they will tell you that the lads here enjoy training and enjoy the atmosphere around the place.

"Unfortunately, the issue is something out of our control and that is why this summer in the transfer market has been difficult, complicated and very, very frustrating.

"The problem is with agents and the clubs we are trying to work with. They do want to sell, but they want to sell at a time that suits them and, on occasions, at their prices.

"I cannot say too much at the moment, but if deals are not being done at the moment, it is not through any fault of our own."

Millen added: "I had hoped to bring at least two players in this week but, because of the problems we have had, I cannot imagine anything will happen before Saturday.

"We're working really hard and cannot do any more as a club. The chairman and I have been on the phone constantly but there are reasons why it has not been possible to do a deal yet."

Last season's top scorer, Nicky Maynard, has been sidelined until December after undergoing surgery on his troublesome knee, while fellow forward Danny Haynes has only just returned to training after recovering from the groin injury that wrecked his pre-season.

That has left David Clarkson as the only senior striker at Millen's disposal and City's manager was forced to deploy 22-year-old winger Albert Adomah at centre-forward in last week's 1-1 draw at Doncaster.

Millen still has 11 days in which to do business and he remains in the market for at least one forward and a left-sided player.

He said: "We still have a lot of injuries, some of them long-term, and everyone knows we need to enhance the squad. It is common knowledge that we badly need a striker and my phone has been ringing non-stop this week with agents trying to put players my way. It's been mad, but you cannot afford to miss a call in case it's the one that lands you a top player.

"To be honest, the lads who played against Doncaster last weekend did fantastically for me and I could have asked for any more from them. I'm not sure I would have changed too much going into this game, even with a new signing or two on board. They've earned the right to wear the shirts for the Barnsley game."