Steve Coppell completed a sensational triple swoop yesterday and then confirmed that he is expecting to make further additions to his squad next week.

Coppell secured a remarkable deal to lure England goalkeeper David James to Ashton Gate yesterday afternoon just hours after landing defenders Nicky Hunt and Damion Stewart.

But the City boss is expecting a busy few days in the transfer market next week as teams try and finalise their business ahead of the opening day of the campaign .

Coppell said: "It's a relief to have got them all in. We obviously needed to recruit after losing a few players because we don't want to be short going into the new season.

"To challenge in the Championship you need to use around 20 players from a squad of around 25 or 26 players

"The team did fantastically well under Keith towards the end of last season but I think the nucleus of that team was made up from 12 of the same players.

"Of that 12 only six remain available to me now so it was imperative to bolster the squad but we still have a few more very vulnerable areas that need filling.

"Ideally we would have got these done three or four weeks ago so the new additions could have settled in.

"We are still down to the bare bones even with the new additions.

"I can't put a number on how many more will come because it has been difficult enough to do the deals we have done.

"It really has been a massive process.

"I think there will be an avalanche of deals (in the transfer market) next week.

"There is so much potentially happening and I think there will be a lot of business done.

"It is very tight financially for a lot of clubs and those fortunate enough to have big squads will start to realise that they can't afford to carry too many players who aren't going to be involved."

Hunt finalised the details on a two-year deal to make the switch from Bolton yesterday morning and is hopeful that the move will re-ignite a career which has stuttered since the defender was a regular under Sam Allardyce's stewardship at the Reebok Stadium.

The former England Under 21 international was being tipped to make a breakthrough in to the senior side before falling down the Bolton pecking order under Allardyce's predecessors Sammy Lee, Gary Megson and Owen Coyle.

Hunt said: "The last couple of years have been very difficult for me.

"I don't think I did much wrong to fall out of favour at Bolton, but this is a fresh challenge and I am looking forward to it.

"It was an easy decision. Steve told me where he wants to take the club and after that I just jumped at the chance to be a part of it. Steve is a massive name in the game and the chairman, Steve Lansdown, is very ambitious.

"Sometimes you have to take a step down a division to make your way back up.

"I think I am coming to a club with a very realistic chance of helping me get back to the Premier League."

Jamaica international Stewart was in negotiations with QPR over a possible contract extension before a surprise decision by Neil Warnock to let him leave as part of the deal that saw Bradley Orr move in the other direction.

"I'm really excited about the new challenge." said Stewart. "I've been in London with QPR for the past four years but I'm looking for a new start and new challenge.

"City have been in and around the top six in recent season so hopefully we can go all the way this time around."

Hunt and Stewart are expected to make their debuts in today's final pre-season friendly against Premier League newcomers Blackpool at Ashton Gate (3pm). James will be paraded on the pitch but will not feature.

j.mcnamara@bepp.co.uk