Sturrock says clubs may swap players rather than buying them

Plymouth Argyle manager Paul Sturrock has said the January transfer window is being affected by the credit crunch.

He believes less fans are going to games and it is cutting clubs' revenue.

"Football clubs have budgeted for certain gates and everyone's 20% down minimum, which is a million pounds to most," he told BBC Radio Devon.

"Yesterday I phoned near enough the world as far as managers are concerned, it was like I was getting a recording with 'no, money, no money, no money'."

Sturrock added: "It's vitally important that we understand that and try and make sure the squad of players we have are strong enough team-wise and squad-wise to bear the brunt of the challenge we face ahead of us.

Before you start bringing new players in you've got to find a another �1 million so it's a very difficult time for football managers Paul Sturrock

"Straight away before you start bringing new players in you've got to find a another �1 million so it's a very difficult time for football managers.

"Everybody's going to try the loan system or the swap system, with one of yours going out for one of theirs coming in.

"I think a lot of that's going to be used in the last couple of weeks of the window."

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