"We are doing our best to do the deals," said the manager, "but we may run out of time with Saturday's game in mind."
He also defiantly insisted he wouldn't be pressured by events into rash signings with the money he has available. "I believe this is a big football club," he added, "and that's why I'm prepared to wait for the right kind of quality players to take us further to realise our potential.
"If I've got it wrong about the size of this club, then I'll hold my hands up, but I don't believe I have.
"It would be easy to paper over the cracks by bringing in players who won't ultimately improve us because there are plenty of them out there.
"But I believe the club and the fans deserve better in the long run."