Julian Rhodes was meeting Colin Todd today to thrash out where City's season goes from here.

Todd is keen to discover if he will be allowed to boost his squad during this month's transfer window.

He has lost Andrew Taylor back to Middlesbrough while Lee Crooks is being eyed by Notts County, although the League Two side claim they cannot afford to pick up the rest of his contract.

City chairman Rhodes, who has braced himself for a seven-figure loss for the season, may be reluctant to gamble too heavily.

"It doesn't necessarily mean if we get two out then two would come in," said Rhodes. "It's about how we see the squad and what we are going to do for the rest of the season.

"We are five points off the play-offs at the moment and would probably have to average two points a game from now on to get there, which is not easy.

"At the start we did push the boat out a little bit with the budget in the hope we would be in a play-off position. Now we have to decide whether to do that again and make a few signings or be more prudent and still have a go with what we've got.

"We'll sit down together and discuss what happens next. But we won't be bringing anyone in before Saturday."

Richard Edghill's future is high on the agenda and he is likely to be offered a new deal until May. The right back's current short-term contract is due to run out after Saturday's trip to Chesterfield although he will not feature because of a hamstring injury.

Todd has been working with a £1.5m player wage bill - about average for League One. But City are chasing teams like Colchester, who have risen to fourth despite operating on one of the lowest budgets.

Todd, who must do without Mark Bower at Saltergate, admits City need to find a level of consistency.

"The problem is whether you keep persevering with players who have lost their form because you know what they can do," he said.