Bristol City: Steve Cotterill has funds for January targets. City boss Steve Cotterill has a shopping list for January please log in to view this image Steve Cotterill is plotting to raid the transfer market in January in his quest to give Bristol City's promotion push some fresh impetus. City's manager has money to spend after operating with a small squad for the first half of the League One campaign and is currently monitoring a list of specific targets. With the Robins top of the League One table after 19 games and well-placed to challenge for automatic promotion, majority shareholder Steve Lansdown is preparing to back Cotterill's bid to regain their Championship status in his first full season at the Ashton Gate helm. Although Cotterill recently recruited striker Matt Smith and right-back Todd Kane on loan from Fulham and Chelsea respectively, his intention is to make at least two permanent signings when the transfer window reopens next month. A mobile, goal-scoring striker and a goalkeeper to provide competition for first-choice Frank Fielding top Cotterill's wanted list and, having moved Bobby Reid, Adam El-Abd and Wes Burns out on loan, he has the necessary funds to bolster a squad that is big on quality but small on numbers. As revealed in the Press last week, City are showing an interest in Chesterfield goal ace Eoin Doyle, the Football League's top-scorer, and Colchester forward Freddie Sears, who has already netted 12 times this season. Although Cotterill is not in the business of discussing transfer targets publicly, he confirmed his budget will allow him to add to his squad should he choose to do so in January. "There is no need to go mad and we cannot do that even if we wanted to, because we have to balance the books," said Cotterill. "But we've done more than balance the books and have been really, really good with our budget this year. As things stand, we are quite a bit under budget. "That means we have that little bit of pocket money to use in January if we want to." In the meantime, Cotterill will continue to operate with a 19-man squad. The number of players available to him will increase to 20 when Wade Elliott completes a three-match ban after Sunday's FA Cup second-round tie against AFC Telford at Ashton Gate. He will hope to negotiate a further five matches between then and the end of the year without sustaining further injuries and suspensions. Cotterill said of the means currently at his disposal: "I feel as though I have the right mix and the right degree of versatility. I have flexible players who can operate in a number of different positions and we have enough to see us through. "I've brought in Matt Smith to bolster an area of the pitch I've been looking to add to for several weeks and I've brought in Todd Kane, who can play in defence or midfield. We have cover in just about every area now." Looking further ahead, he added: "I won't go signing players for the sake of it or simply to make up the numbers. I'm big on signing the right type and that's where my focus is. "What I do beyond the next six weeks will be determined by where we are in the League and what cups we are in." Meanwhile, City centre-back Aden Flint has been nominated for the Sky Bet League One player of the month award for November. The 6ft 5in defender has played in every league game this season as City have blazed a trail at the head of the League One table. The other nominations are MK Dons midfielder Carl Baker, Stephen Jordan from Fleetwood and Sc**thorpe striker Paddy Madden. Read more: http://www.westerndailypress.co.uk/...tory-25067810-detail/story.html#ixzz3KqODfejQ
What is the betting that SC and KB already have a shopping list prepared with players listed in order of preference?
We'll be signing Doyle... fairly confident of that, unless of course a championship team comes in. I really hope Lansdown backs Cotterill we're promoted. We'll need 3-4 big signings if we go up to help us stay there and push on towards the top 6.
That is just what we need, a settled side but competition for places. We blew the chance of Premier League football due to poor signings in the January of 2008. I know it's not a fair comparison but I'm pleased if we do sign big !
'It's all about'....... Leaving it with Cotterill, never thought I'd say it, I have total faith in him. He's even found a club for El Abd. If he manages to find a club for Wagstaff - well, he'll walk on water as far as I'm concerned.
Forget about waggy RP your obsessed with him lad...when he does finally leave then your obsession will start with someone else!!!
Stockhausen tweeted recently that City are interested in Doyle and Sears. Whether he is correct or not, Doyle is an obvious target whereas Sears is not. Should Stockhausen have the correct names, Doyle is clearly to provide competition and cover for Wilbs and Agard. Sears as a fourth striker? I believe more likely as an attacking midfield to give us like for like options for Elliott and Freeman.
