Town boss Paul Lambert says his focus will remain on free transfers despite the Blues receiving £450,000 for striker Ellis Harrison, who joined Portsmouth last week, and having picked up a windfall of almost £800,000 from ex-defender Matt Clarke’s move from Pompey to Brighton.

The Blues had anticipated a further £1 million going into the coffers via Bartosz Bialkowski’s move to Millwall, which as things stand now isn’t going to happen.

Asked whether the money the club has received over the last week will make a difference to his transfer business, Lambert said: “I think with the money structure the money doesn’t come in this season, so we probably have to look at frees unless something comes up and [owner] Marcus Evans] says ‘Okay we can maybe buy’.

“I don’t have a problem with that, that’s football, you have to respect what way the club is going, if it’s frees we have to look really hard and if we get them in, then great. And if you don’t then you move on.

“We’ve got a big squad as it is at the minute, so we have to wait and see what transpires over the next few weeks.”

He added: “We’ve got 23/24 players at the minutes, and we can only have 18 [in a matchday squad], so we might try and bring someone else in to help.

“But if you keep bringing people in then it stops the progression of the young ones coming through, so it doesn’t make sense, you may as well scrap the academy if you’re not going to utilise it.

“The young lads played a lot of the season last year, the lads that were out of our squad last season was huge, and there were too many disappointing players, there were too many.

“Six were loans, and some were out of contract, and we agreed not to take the option, so the squad is far too big, we have 23 players and anybody will tell you that’s probably a number they won’t want to work with because when you have too many, it becomes a problem.”

Asked whether that means there’s not going to be too many more signings, he said: “Not necessarily, no. If I can try and bring someone else in then great to do it, but it won’t alter anything.

“I don’t need one to go for one to come in, so if it’s someone I think can make us better then I can look at it. “

Regarding current bids both for incoming and outgoing players, he continued: “There’s a bit of both. There’s always some that happen and some that don’t happen, and that’s the same with lads going out and lads coming in.

“So we wait and see because there’s still a long time [left on the transfer window]. We try and work accordingly with the way we want to work, and if it’s beneficial and right for the club, then we’ll try something.”

With Peterborough and Portsmouth in particular having already made a number of signings, Lambert knows it’s going to be a tough division.

“It’s not easy, but money doesn’t guarantee anything,” he reflected. “You need a little bit more than just money to get you out of the league.

“I know what to expect, and I know exactly what’s coming. I know most of the guys now because I’ve worked with them for six or seven months, one or two aren’t here due to internationals and play-offs, but we’re looking forward to it, and we’ll be ready.”

Photo: TWTD

Saxonblue74 added 20:11 - Jun 25 The kind of fees we would be likely to spend on players would yield no better quality than a shrewd free here and there. Hidden gems are still out there and I'm sure PL and his staff will be working hard to unearth them.
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Saxonblue74 added 20:18 - Jun 25 .......also, can we please stop with the Norwich comparisons??!!
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warktheline added 20:34 - Jun 25 Whilst this club has the likes of @arnie making every excuse under the sun for the man responsible for the plight of this club we have no chance...mind blowing!!!!
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ITFCsince73 added 21:02 - Jun 25 I've stated...and stand by... with Evans owning the club, and calamity Chambo leading the team, promotion is fantasy anytime soon. Not saying I or anyone else could do better, but that combo is destined to fail. Much like it has done so far. Changing the team captaincy after our worst 18/24 months in living memory, would be normal procedure at any other club. Why do we persist with what has failed so miserably so far. A strong football playing captain is essential, to achieve promotion from any league.

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Saxonblue74 added 21:31 - Jun 25 Warktheline, I don't see ArnieM is making excuses, simply applying a dose of reality to the situation.
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Michael101 added 21:34 - Jun 25 The only good thing evan,s has done is getting rid of that idiot mad mick,and that was 4years to late
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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 21:41 - Jun 25 I don't get this anti Chambers campaign from some . No he didn't have a good year, who did ? Bart didn't either , but the three before were great . Is he now sh*t ? Or was it a combination of things ? Chambers isn't the greatest player in the world but there are far far worse. I'm not sure if it's Town fans or football fans in general but there always seems to have to be a scapegoat in every era . Jermaine Wright used to get dogs abuse in Burley's day , Stockwell went through a spell of it , Delaney was another ( who went on to play in the PL for several years after we did ) . None of them outstanding but all decent enough and not deserving of abuse from their own fans . ITFC73 - Yes we know you don't like him , you say it EVERY POST

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budgieplucker added 22:07 - Jun 25 In essence ME doesn't have to find the lost tv revenue, he said himself that this would be covered by the reduction in wages as per the contract clauses. Given our wage budget was in the region of 18 million a year then a 50% reduction saves 9 million. Loanees have returned to their clubs and a disproportionate amount of their wages would have made up that 18 million. Season tickets are up in numbers by approx. the same percentage of the reduction for early purchase. Our squad was and still is too big so trimming it has also saved costs, cover will be provided by the youngster developing, this all however, doesn't mean we shouldn't find funds to secure two or three critical signings - Norwood being one of them supposedly a 900k signing on fee was paid. Still think we are a couple of experienced players short of having a squad that can make a real difference in this league, another striker therefore needed, if Norwood gets injured then we are back to the players who failed us last season.

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ITFCsince73 added 22:24 - Jun 25 I've got no problem with Chambo, as far as I like him or not Bobble. It's a massive mistake giving a contract extension yes.....2 Year's even though we had a 1 year option. It's a massive mistake continuing with his captaincy yes....our win percentage over 80 games, confirms that very clearly. It's a continued mistake that he starts the next game regardless of how poor he was in the previous game yes....I understand all managers have made him 1st name on the team sheet. We now start 3rd tier football for the 1st time in 62 years. Apart from all the above.....yes I think he's a great bloke.

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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 22:51 - Jun 25 Did I say once anything about him being a great bloke ?? I was talking purely about his football ability . Why do u and a select view twist things people say .
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BrettenhamBlue added 01:03 - Jun 26 Unless we sell, I doubt we will bring anyone new in. 15M is a lot to lose in a season, and though that figure will be offset by reduction in players wages, non-renewal of last years contracts and the sales of Clarke and Harrison; it is nowhere near enough. ME will still be funding us considerably. To be honest, wouldn't surprise me of we lose a couple of players for some cash.

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SaigonTractor added 02:50 - Jun 26 "you may as well scrap the academy if you're not going to utilise it." Like this line of thinking. We've been neglecting the academy for years, letting players like Clarke, Rhodes etc all leave for nothing. It will be good to actually develop some of our own talent.
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rabbit added 07:47 - Jun 26 Interesting to note bluearmy_81 has kept up to date with this thread all the way through but has declined (again) to respond with any facts in relation to my earlier post!
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braveblue added 08:37 - Jun 26 ArnieM. Losses increase with each post. £9m a season? Maybe wages will be down and waste restricted. If Evans loses that each season it is down to to his appalling management.
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ITFCsince73 added 08:57 - Jun 26 Bobble. I think it's clear what I think of Chambos playing ability. In fact even if you had a very basic football knowledge you couldn't fail to spot what a total defensive liability he is. As for captain material. As I've said, look at the win ratio. 98% of those games Chambo has been on the pitch, leading the troops. Dressing room speeches before games, half time etc. It hasn't worked has it?

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Bluearmy_81 added 09:08 - Jun 26 You're obsessed with me Rabbit! 😂 Hop along...
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ITFCsince73 added 09:10 - Jun 26 And Bobble, no twisting intended. I do think hes a top bloke, a great bloke to have around the club etc etc. Just not the right bloke to captain our club going forward. And certainly not the right bloke to have in our defensive line, if we are to be serious promotion contenders. That's my opinion.
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ITFCsince73 added 09:13 - Jun 26 Hes obsessed with a few others also....maybe we could ask Phil to ban him?
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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 09:25 - Jun 26 ITFCSINCE73- so I haven't got a basic knowledge of football? You say this knowing nothing about me other than I disagree with you . Arrogance at its finest
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ITFCsince73 added 09:46 - Jun 26 Bobble I wasnt referring to you....you say I twist things! I don't really care what your football knowledge is tbh.
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ITFCsince73 added 09:50 - Jun 26 And do you really care what my opinion is Bobble? Because you make it sound like you have a big problem with it. Which I find odd... Being a site based on opinions, of news related content.
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rabbit added 10:37 - Jun 26 Thanks bluearmy_81 at least now I know you have no answers and it is plain to see you are basing your comments on spurious and non legitimate opinions that you advertise as facts. As for banning me lol, yes I'm guilty of politely questioning some people that use opinion as fact and do no research on what they spout, such a shame really that so many people live in a world of nothing more than sound bites to form an opinion.

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Bluearmy_81 added 10:49 - Jun 26 No answers to what? You talk nonsense man. The facts are this once great club is at its lowest ebb in 62 years and this following 11 years of failure for Evans to achieve his and our goal of promotion to the prem. In my opinion we have less chance of coming back up than Norwich, Leeds or Sheff utd had simply because of the ineptitude and failure to change a broken, floored approach that Evans won't shift from. In any organisation the buck stops with the top man. His failure is indefensible. That you call yourself a town fan yet try at every turn to defend Evans is as pitiful as all of the above.

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rabbit added 11:27 - Jun 26 I have never defended ME I simply conclude that currently I have no alternative solution other than to back what hopefully is being done to rectify this downfall. The facts, as you like to call them, is that ME does keep the business afloat, the fact is he can let the business fund itself without investing more money but this would inevitably lead to administration. You on the other hand believe he cannot and then say that I talk nonsense! Leading a ludicrous crusade to try and oust ME when there is currently no alternative is totally counter productive. As I have posted before I would love that ITFC had unlimited funds and was top of the premier, but until ME took over there was never any significant funding and it has been a wonderful journey watching ITFC punch well above their weight, I wish those days would return but I don't believe that hate campaigns will serve any benefit in assisting this. Posting rubbish about asset stripping and tax losses without the ability to back this up in any factual format is a churlish exercise. Once again give me a good reason why ME is still here and seemingly, in your opinion, leading the business into oblivion, presumably for his own gain, just explain the advantages to him on that scenario.

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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 11:30 - Jun 26 "In fact even if you had a very basic football knowledge you couldn't fail to spot what a total defensive liability he is". ITFCSINCE73 - How is this not aimed at me ? The message starts with my name and goes on to say that ?
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