Bain battling with budget to boost team

MARTIN Bain is working to scrape together a January transfer budget to help bolster Sunderland’s understrength squad.

The Black Cats’ financial problems following relegation are well documented, with new manager Simon Grayson handed just £1.25m to bring in signings over the summer.

And with 15 players leaving Wearside since the end of last season, that money had to stretch a long way with fees paid out for just three of the ten additions, while three more joined on free transfers and four on loan.

But Sunderland’s squad is still lightweight in key areas, particularly up front, while the club’s porous defence is also desperately in need of reinforcements.

Asked whether there would be money to spend in January, chief executive Bain said: “That’s something that’s on my agenda, because whether we are at the top of the league or the bottom of the league, we have a duty at all times to try and improve the squad.

“I’ll sit down with Simon over the next few days and have a chat about that.

“I spoke to Simon on Sunday and we had a long discussion about the strengths and weaknesses of the squad, and overall I think we both know where we need to improve and what we need to do.

But with the club still deeply in debt, and living beyond its means – and with owner Ellis Short refusing to bankroll spending in the transfer market – Bain is wary of raising hopes that significant money will be available.

“From a budgetary point of view, I’m not going to make promises and create expectation for the fans and risk false dawns, and I hope they respect that,” he said.

“At times there are messages that people don’t want to hear, but I hope that fans respect the fact that I am communicating with them and telling them the way it is.”