Hughes accepts lack of finances

Hughs says he appreciates the Falkirk board's financial position

Falkirk head coach John Hughes admits he appreciates the board's frugal approach to finances, given the current global economic downturn.

Despite being keen to recruit a second goalkeeper after Scott Flinders' loan from Crystal Palace ended, Hughes has been told he has no transfer budget.

"We are one of the clubs that's in the black - we would never go in the red," said Hughes.

"But, as a manager, you want that wee bit of finance."

Untried youngster Michael Andrews will be on the Falkirk bench as second-choice goalkeeper for Saturday's Scottish Cup meeting with Queen of the South, with Jamie Barclay cup-tied after a loan spell at East Stirlingshire.

Falkirk sit just one point clear of the Scottish Premier League's bottom club, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, and Hughes is frustrated by the lack of finance at Falkirk Stadium.

Would you throw money at it to stay in the SPL? That's a gamble you would have to sit down and take. John Hughes

"It's frustrating because, if I'm being brutally honest, I was sitting down about six weeks ago and counting up the figures and you're thinking you can bring two or three in in the window, but it's not there," said Hughes.

"Would you throw money at it to stay in the SPL? That's a gamble you would have to sit down and take.

"When is the time to throw money at it? Now.

"The window is the only opportunity and I think we need a few meetings to say that.

"They have given me ways to raise my own funds by getting players out on loan and things like that, but no-one is buying, no-one is taking players on loan because they have got no money.

"What I've got at this club is certainly good enough, or it should be good enough."

Hughes also insists that any funds generated via sponsorship is evaporating due to the credit crunch.

"We have had building companies that have walked out on us," he said. "You rely on people like that for money, but they have walked out.

"It's not just in football - that's right across the board in every walk of life.

"We have worked really hard through it to stay in the black."