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Page last updated at 06:44 GMT, Friday, 16 October 2009 07:44 UK

Financial squeeze affects Ospreys

Lote Tuqiri
Ospreys suggested they lacked the resources to pursue Lote Tuqiri

Coach Sean Holley says the perception of a limitless budget at the Ospreys is wide of the mark.

"I don't think there has been [anything in the transfer kitty] for a while," Holley told the Scrum V Radio show.

The region have been labelled as the 'Galacticos' of rugby, but recently suggested they lacked the resources to pursue an interest in Lote Tuqiri.

They also failed to move to sign a new prop when Adam Jones was injured, a decision that cost them at Leicester.

After building a 26-8 lead at Welford Road in the first round of the Heineken Cup, the Ospreys saw their fragile front row taken apart as the Tigers dominated possession to fight back for a 32-32 draw.

606: DEBATE

"It didn't surprise me [that the Ospreys did not make new signings]," former Ospreys and Wales centre Mark Taylor, an accountant, told Scrum V Radio.

"If you look at the world there's a restriction on money, all of sport is suffering from that.

"It's all about balancing the books at the end of the day."

The Ospreys have been keen to distance themselves from the Galacticos tag this season as they look to forge a new team spirit under director of coaching Scott Johnson.

"Perception and reality are different things," Holley told Scrum V Radio.

"We've got to trust in our squad, financial constraints are here at the Ospreys and we've got a big squad as it is.

"When we come up against the French sides in the Heineken Cup we realise what a big budget is.

"Because we've nurtured some high-profile players here to be internationals and world stars people automatically think we've bought them in.

"[Look at] James Hook, Alun Wyn Jones, I suppose Dan Biggar will be the next one to be put on a pedestal.

"It's home-grown talent and we do supplement them with high-profile overseas players - but what squad doesn't?"



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see also
Ospreys 25-24 Clermont Auvergne
18 Oct 09 |  Welsh
Hook considered as Byrne stand-in
15 Oct 09 |  Welsh
Ospreys fine with Tuqiri's past
01 Oct 09 |  Welsh
Gatland urges Henson to play on
08 Oct 09 |  Welsh
Wales' rugby fixtures
26 Jun 07 |  Welsh
Wales rugby results archive
15 Oct 03 |  Welsh
Heineken Cup
11 Apr 07 |  Rugby Union
RaboDirect Pro12
11 Apr 07 |  Rugby Union
Anglo-Welsh Cup
11 Apr 07 |  Rugby Union
BBC Sport Wales coverage
03 Oct 11 |  Wales
Coming up next on Scrum V...
03 Nov 08 |  Welsh


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