Jewell wants to be ready for January window
Last updated : 07 September 2005 By Paul Farrington
Nine players came in over the summer and the squad now has a much stronger look to it. Fans are hopeful of survival and a host of new faces in January could only help to boost those hopes.
David Hamilton and Bill Green will have a busy six months ahead of them as they scour Europe for more players. Another few Pascal Chimbonda's wouldn't go a miss!
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Paul Jewell said: "Between now and January we need to get ourselves abroad every weekend to watch games and see who is available. Bill Green and David Hamilton are away this weekend in Europe and it's important we know the market a bit better. By January, we have to make sure we know about everyone out there."
The manager also dismissed comments regarding the clubs Michael Owen bid, commenting that the club were closer to signing the England international than many think.
Jewell continued: "We tried exceptionally hard to get more players in and I was disappointed with one or two people's reaction and arrogant comments. We were closer than most people think to getting Michael Owen. We tried to get Fatih Tekke from Turkey and Johan Ellander from Brondby.
"They were players we wanted to get in as well as David Connolly - he wasn't an after-thought. We tried to get Dean Windass but contrary to reports we didn't go back with a second bid of £600,000, we made one bid of £350,000.
"If we can have a decent run up until Christmas then we become a better draw for players. If I was a player and had a choice of going to a top established club or one that was new to the league, I know which one I'd join. That is what we are up against and we have to work hard to establish ourselves as a Premier League club."