Cardiff City boss Dave Jones last night expressed his frustration at being unable to boost his squad ahead of the new season.
Jones has just a 19-man squad to work wih, which includes three goalkeepers, and his only signing in pre-season has been midfielder Jeff Whitley.
We understand that Jones is in talks with Scotland U-21 skipper Jamie McCunnie who plied his trade at Ross County last season.
The 22-year old is known to be in Cardiff and has met Jones and club owner Sam Hammam with a view to a move to south Wales.
As reported previously Jones is also after Bristol City's Danny Coles - a bid rejected by the Robins - former Notts Forest defender John Curtis has been linked as has Wolves midfielder Kevin Cooper, Watford's Neil Cox and Glenn Loovens of Dutch club Feyenoord.
Jones has already held talks with Manchester City defender Mikkel Bischoff, however, he failed to agree personal terms and could stay awith the club. Jones may make a move to bring Bischoff to Ninian Park on a season-long loan with the Dane way down the pecking order in Stuart Pearce's plans.
Jones said: "There are a lot of things going on. I'm working hard to get people in with Sam and Peter Ridsdale, but players are keeping their options open.
"This is what players who are in demand do. It's nothing new in football. I'm frustrated because I would like to have all my players here now, but we have to work to the players' time-scale and not ours.
"I've got no complaints about the players here. They work hard and, after speaking to the staff who were here before me, spirit has never been a problem.
"But we need to get players in. I need to put together a squad that can go through a 46-game campaign as well as cup games. At the moment, I haven't got that.
"You can't rely on kids. If you throw them in the deep end when they're not ready then you will do them more harm than good."
Jones has revealed he would ideally like to bring in "three or four" new players before the squad head north for their tour of Scotland next week.
He explained: "We've made inquiries for players, but have been turned down. When that happens, we move on to other targets.
"I have to be patient, but it's frustrating for me. I need to get a squad together in time for Scotland. Sometimes you have to wait for things longer than you would like," he continued.
"Players in the top flight who are going to come into the Championship are going to work their way through this division.
"If I speak to them, tell them our ambitions and show them the area then I know there won't be a problem. But it's actually getting to speak to them, or getting their club's permission to speak to them, that can be difficult."
Jones has been hampered by a number of key players departing Ninian Park in recent months, among them Wales defenders Danny Gabbidon and James Collins, winger Jobi McAnuff and striker Peter Thorne.
However, it is the dual-sale of Gabbidon and Collins that is proving the hardest position to fill.
"I'm looking to sign centre-backs, central midfielders and centre-forwards. That's the way I build sides," said Jones.
"The backbone of the team is my priority. I build through the middle, then add the ribs later. It's old-fashioned, but I've never known a different way to build a side.
"We've let experienced players go, so I'm looking to bring experienced players in. Age is no barrier. If they're 23 or 33 doesn't matter. They will come if they're good enough.
"What I'm looking for are good professionals with good characters to stabilise the club and educate the younger players. I've done it before. When I was at Wolves, I signed Paul Ince and Dennis Irwin and they stabilised the club. When I was at Southampton, I signed Carlton Palmer and David Hirst.
"Older players bring out the best in youngsters. People have to get over the age barrier. Playing careers are longer because of the right training and diets.
"If you look in the Premiership, there are a lot of players over 30."