Dawe has been player-coach at Albion since 1999

Plymouth Albion chairman of rugby Graham Dawe has questioned the number of players Championship clubs can bring in mid-season.

League strugglers Birmingham & Solihull drafted in 16 new players before the transfer deadline on 15 January.

The Bees, who are without a win all season, now look a very different prospect going into the final stages.

Dawe told BBC Radio Devon: "Morally and principles wise it's not exactly the right thing."

The 2009/10 Championship season has seen the introduction of a new play-off system for both relegation and promotion.

The top eight clubs at the end of the regular season in March will progress into the promotion play-offs, whilst the bottom four will battle to avoid dropping down into National One.

And after strengthening their squad with the addition of 16 new faces, the Bees' chances of staving off relegation have taken a turn for the better.

Albion are currently seventh in the league standings, but only six points above the drop zone, where both Rotherham and Doncaster have a game in hand over them.

I guess it'll be closed by this time next year Graham Dawe

Consequently Dawe is taking the prospect of being sucked into a relegation battle very seriously, although he refused to condemn the Bees' for their squad improvements.

He said: "One can't knock people doing that, albeit if it's not in the best principles of the game."

When questioned as to whether or not the RFU should change the rules on player signings, Dawe said: "Well it's far from me to say, but it was difficult to spot until it was done, so I guess it'll be closed by this time next year."

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