Jewell has let Lee Ashcroft and Scott Green leave the JJB Stadium in the last three weeks while also allowing Ged Brannan to go out on loan.

But, now with a squad of 18 professionals, he has found it difficult to bring in new players to join the runaway Division Two leaders.

"There are certain players that I'd like to bring to the football club - no doubt about that - but it's not always as straightforward as that," Jewell told the club's website.

"The price tends to go up a fair bit when a club hears that Wigan are interested and the days of throwing silly money at signings is gone here."

He added: "I think he's (chairman) sick of being held to ransom for players and won't stand for that anymore.

"That's why some of the players we'd like to bring in aren't going to arrive right now."