FIGURES released this week spelled out to Wanderers' fans what Sam Allardyce has known for some time: there is little or no prospect of a big cash splash when the transfer window re-opens in January.

The manager will have a better picture when he sits down with his directors next month but he is not holding his breath.

A blind man on a galloping horse can see Wanderers desperately need to strengthen their attacking hand, if they are to pull clear of the relegation zone, but with debts of almost £33 million and determined to maintain their cautious financial policy, Big Sam is not expected to be signing any big cheques.

That does not mean there will be no comings and goings in January when clubs throughout Europe have one last chance to sign new players. But, unless there is a sudden and dramatic improvement on the financial front, it looks like the manager will again be restricted to loans or short-term deals.

"I wouldn't think I can do anything at this moment in time," Allardyce suggested. "But it won't be until the end of November and into December when I would sit down and have the discussion with the board of directors.

"Once I've got what I have got lined up I will ask the question and it will be a straightforward 'Yes, you can' or 'No, you can't'. But, in the present financial climate, it may be difficult for them to find me some money.

"We'll have to wait and see."

In some respects Allardyce has become a victim of his own success. Out of necessity he has built a reputation for achieving success on a limited budget - his most notable achievement being to fashion a survival squad last season with little or no outlay in transfer fees.

Wanderers did invest heavily, of course. Bruno N'Gotty, Youri Djorkaeff and Fredi Bobic did not come cheap and, as chairman Phil Gartside acknowledged in his statement that accompanied the Burnden Leisure annual accounts on Wednesday, the end justified the means.

"We believe the policy we have adopted involving short-term contracts, loan signings and investment in youth has been justified by the achievement of retaining our Premiership status," the Reebok chief said.

Despite their determination not to put the club's very existence at risk, the cash-conscious directors are still trying to ease the current situation and by next month could have secured "considerable additional working capital facilities" from one of their existing shareholders. They are also trying to improve their cashflow by accessing television cash they are due to receive next August.

Allardyce carries on regardless, scouring the markets, especially for a striker. As he puts it: "It won't stop me looking because certainly from a fire-power point of view you don't need to be an expert like me to know that's what we want."

The manager believes he has done all he can to ease the financial pressure by paring his squad to the limit and trimming his wage bill.

"Since the start of pre-season training, Bo Hansen (FC Mydjytland), Ryan Baldacchino (Carlisle) and Alan O'Hare (Chesterfield) have all left on a permanent basis; we've loaned out Steve Banks (Bradford), David Norris (Plymouth), Nicky Southall (Norwich) and this week Delroy Facey (Bradford).

"I've got every fringe player out to league clubs that I possibly can.

"But I can't do anything until January. We'll find out then whether I'll be able to do anything or not."