Stuart McCall has indicated he will go down the loan route rather than be held to ransom by players wanting too much money.

The City boss's initial attempts to bring new signings in have been frustrated by some players wanting more money than he is prepared to pay.

And McCall - a former Everton and Rangers player as well as an assistant-manager in the Premiership with Sheffield United - is ready to use his wealth of contacts at the top level to bring in loan players on a more cost-effective basis.

He said : "I will bring new players to the club but not at any price. I have been offered players who have wanted way too much money for the Second Division.

"I will not pay that when I know I can get a player on loan for half that amount."

McCall has already brought in Barnsley youngsters Nathan Joynes and Thomas Harban on trial with a view to setting up loan deals.

And he knows that higher-level clubs are keen to loan out promising youngsters to see them gain first-team experience.

He said: "When I was at Sheffield United, we loaned out Steven Quinn and Jonathan Forte to Rotherham and it benefited us hugely.

"Premiership clubs and Championship club are always looking to send their youngsters out on loan to let them see what first-team football is all about - as long as they get the right welcome and are given the right environment, which they will here."

Bringing youngsters in on loan is a policy which McCall's predecessor Colin Todd used with success.

Youngster Andrew Taylor went on to become a first-team regular at Middlesbrough in the Premiership, while Derby's Nathan Doyle was voted the club's player of the year last season, despite leaving halfway through the campaign after being signed by Hull.

Meanwhile, McCall is itching to get out of the office and on to the training pitch.

His squad reported back for training on Thursday but outdoor work was not due to start until today, weather permitting.

McCall, who was expecting to make his first signing today, said: "It can't come a second too soon. It seems like every hour of the day I've had the phone stuck to my ear or I've been on the internet finding out about players.

"I'm looking forward to getting out on the pitch and working with the boys."

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