Darrell Clarke has warned supporters against thinking the arrival of new owners will bring about a loan window spending fee. Clarke held meetings with new owner Wael Al Qadi earlier this week where he was given assurances over his role in making all team selection and recruitment decisions. The new owners have also said they will back Clarke in the loan market should he make a request between now and deadline day on March 31, but the manager said today: "I'm sure there will be a lot of people wondering whether we will sign this player or that player. "There is scope to bring one or two in before the end of the loan window if I feel I need to do that, but I can tell people now that I won't be rushing out spending loads of money. I need to know what any new player is going to bring into the changing room as well as what they are going to bring on to the pitch. There will be no knee-jerk reactions or panic signings here. "This club got relegated on a much-higher budget than we have at the moment so money does not guarantee you success. "The success we have had over the last 18 months has come through talent, team work, progression and continuity. I will not risk losing any of those things by signing players willy-nilly." Al Qadi, who is currently in Zurich lobbying for "friend and compatriot" Prince Ali bin al-Hussein in his bid to become the new president of FIFA, spent over an hour with Clarke at the training ground on Tuesday. "We had a great chat," said Clarke. "I think we are going to work well together. "I had a very good relationship with the old board and I don't see my one with the new owner being any different. You have to embrace changes and build new relationships. "It is going to be an exciting time for the supporters, but, for me, it is about getting back down to business and putting all my energy and efforts into the final 15 games of the season. "I'm sure there will be plenty of changes going on behind the scenes but I just want to save all my energy to concentrate on finishing as high up the league as possible." Rovers, who are currently placed seventh, take on ninth-placed Wycombe Wanderers at Adams Park on their return to action on Saturday. "Gareth (Ainsworth) is working with a small squad," said Clarke. "He has formed a tight-knit group that makes togetherness work for them in much the same way as we do. "Every single point is important now. We have put ourselves in a challenging position, but you can see how tight the league is. "Wycombe were fourth the other week before losing one game and dropping down to tenth. That shows you there is little margin for error." Ellis Harrison officially returned from a loan spell at Hartlepool United last weekend. The striker managed only 124 minutes of action before injury curtailed his progress, and Clarke said: "It was unfortunate because we wanted to get Ellis some game time. "He is on the comeback trail and I expect him to be ready to play his part through a crucial part of the season. "I have a really talented group of players who are eager to move the club forward and I'm going to need them all around me for the run-in."
Fair play to him he's keeping faith in the current squad but I still think we could do with a winger and a striker.
That may still happen. If they suit DC for the right reasons. Good thing now though, he may find a player that suits him, a little further up the leagues where he may not have looked because of finances. We will soon find out.
Sensible comments by DC after all he doesn't want to upset the balance and togetherness of the squad by rushing out and bringing in expensive players for the sake of it no matter how much as supporters we would want it
