Bates: Budget Tight

Last updated : 17 August 2006 By Kevin Markey
Bates says in the YEP: "The way Kevin has wheeled and dealed this summer has been quite incredible, and we've got a stronger squad than last season. It's actually a very big squad, with about 25 players, and we might need to slim that down.

"We've lost the parachute payments this season and we're still dealing with the final overhang of the Ridsdale era. That puts a lot of pressure on us. The clubs who have come down from the Premiership have a lot of money to spend. The budget here is tight but we always have the option of turning to the loan market."