Nick Higgs vows to give Bristol Rovers boss Mark McGhee a good playing budget
BRISTOL Rovers chairman Nick Higgs says manager Mark McGhee has one of the best playing budgets in League Two available to him in an effort to build a promotion-winning squad next season.
McGhee, pictured, is set to step up the chase to land a number of potential targets to bolster his squad after returning from a family holiday in Spain earlier this week.
Rovers have yet to start their summer spending spree after attempts to land Oxford United striker James Constable ended in failure last week – but Higgs has confirmed the likelihood of the arrival of four to six new faces to strengthen key areas at the heart of defence and in midfield.
The recruitment of a striker also remains firmly on the agenda and Higgs insists McGhee has the funds to be competitive in a market expected to be dominated by big-spending Rotherham over the summer.
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He said: "I think Mark will have a budget that is one of the best in League Two. It's not necessarily the highest but it will be in that top group of clubs – as it was last year.
"Mark is happy with the budget we have given him and has based his list of targets around that. We have a list of players we'd like to bring to the club and I'm in day-to-day contact with Mark. We've got a list of names that would strengthen the centre of defence and midfield areas, so all in all there are lots of things going on behind the scenes."
Newly-promoted Fleetwood Town and Northampton Town, who have recently splashed out on Coventry City striker Clive Platt, are also expected to make significant outlays in a bid for promotion to League One and Rovers' director of finance Toni Watola added: "Clearly we have spoken to Mark about what is available, but, being truthful, it is a broad brush figure.
"Over the next two months, we'll move it along as is appropriate to bring in the players needed to give us a good start to next season.
"We start the process (of planning the playing budget for the following season) around April time when we review things like potential season ticket income and matchday revenues.
"We also look at the teams who are to be promoted out of our division or relegated. When you lose the likes of a Leeds or a Norwich, like we did when we were in League One, then that has a significant impact on matchday revenues.
"We also can't fully determine figures until we see the fixture list because we need to take into account things like which team we are going to play on Boxing Day and whether it will be home or away.
"We then take a view on all of those factors and then look at our fixed expenditure and come up with a figure."
Comments
by Oldfrank
Wednesday, June 27 2012, 8:22PM
“For all you doubting Thomases out there.
I hear a spectacular announcement will be made on Friday.”
by Baldeeheed
Monday, June 18 2012, 11:57AM
“God knows why Gasheads respond to the well-known 1982 troll Old Frank.”
by DawnNorth
Saturday, June 16 2012, 11:16PM
“@Oldfrank your comment about Mr Higgs' willy brought a lump to my throat”
by gasincider
Saturday, June 16 2012, 5:28PM
“No. What happens Oldfrank is that the agents tell you what the player wants. He is at liberty to, whereas the player is under contract to his club and cant say owt till his club say so.”
by Oldfrank
Saturday, June 16 2012, 3:22PM
“Oh I see gasincider it's all cloak and dagger stuff is it.
That explains why Brian Seymour-Smith has gone under cover and we have moles burrowing away beneath the pitch. I suppose Geoff Dunford is hacking into Constable's agents phone and station chief Higgs is the third man. Spooky !”
by MichaelRooney
Saturday, June 16 2012, 2:47PM
“The broad brush is needed so that Nick Higgs can paint himself into a corner with his reckless comments.”
by Mike_Hope
Saturday, June 16 2012, 11:45AM
“So the finance director doesn't have the first clue of what the playing budget will be. "It's a broad brush!" he announces. But the chairman says the manager will have one of the best budgets in the division. Glad that's clear.”
by gasincider
Saturday, June 16 2012, 9:32AM
“I'll try and make it simple Oldfrank. The deal is dead but Constables agent has confirmed he wants to move. I'll leave the rest to your imagination. Sometimes IT IS best to say nothing.”
by Oldfrank
Friday, June 15 2012, 6:54PM
“But gasincider Mr Higgs is telling everyone we are a wealthy club at our level when he says we have one of the best playing budgets in the division "like we did last year".
My argument is that it would be best to say nothing. Concentrate on doing your homework, conduct negotiations privately and then announce you have made a signing which inspires the fans and does sell extra season tickets.
The contradictions are coming thick and fast again with Constable apparently back on the agenda after Mr Higgs told us the deal was "dead in the water" and "we are switching our attentions elsewhere". Now Mark McGhee tells the BBC he's still interested because "Constable has a record at this level which is important" yet a few weeks ago we were spun the yarn about building a team capable of competing in League 1.
Some may take the view that all this is highly sophisticated maneuvering and part of a cunning Rovers plan designed to get the best players at the best prices. Others may say it's a shambles.”
by gasincider
Friday, June 15 2012, 5:04PM
“Not really Oldfrank, you offer what you think and if its not accepted you move on to the next one. Its only if you chase the player and keep upping the offer you fall flat.
The gas made a fair offer for Constable and they got greedy. Wait and see what happens now. Remember they are anxious to be rid of him as they have now signed Rigg.
Every club at our level knows we are not a wealthy club, and its a fallacy to think otherwise.”