Cheltenham Town manager Gary Johnson is still looking to make more signings, despite bringing in six players in January.
The Robins secured the loan signings of players such as Swansea U23s captain Joe Rodon and ex-Arsenal full-back Ilias Chatzitheodoridis, but hope to utilise the free agent rule to pick up some long-term squad players outside of the transfer window.
Johnson said: “Free agents that are in your thoughts are not short term. The free agents, if you bring in any, will be for the rest of this season and next season.
“Free agents have got themselves out of contract so they can sign permanent deals outside of the window. There’s a lot of them doing that so we’ve contacted a couple of them and we’re talking to them as they’ll be long term players for us as opposed to short term.”
Five out of Cheltenham’s six January signings will return to their parent clubs at the end of the season, and with 12 players having expiring contracts in June this year, Johnson is already having to look ahead to maintain his new-found squad depth.
Johnson did admit that bringing in loan players is ultimately better for the club’s financial state, as wages are typically split with the parent club and the loanee isn’t paid past the end of the season.
Johnson: “Most loans you pay part of their wages – that’s how the loan system works, and we’re no different. Every one of our loans we are paying less than what their salary is.
“If you look at all the clubs they’ve all got three/four/five loans, because you can enhance your squad with more numbers without it costing you a fortune throughout the summer – and that’s important when you’re trying to build for next year.
“Yes, if somebody comes along, that you know that you want for next year and he’s available, then of course we would sign him now right through till next year. But budget wise, it’s important for us smaller clubs to have loans because it means that you can save your budget a bit.”
Although there is undoubtedly interest from Johnson to get some players in the near future, potential targets are remaining unnamed in order to keep his ideas a secret.
Johnson: “I know what I’ve got in mind in the next couple weeks, but you can’t put everything out there to everyone that you’d like to. It puts your thoughts in other manager’s minds.”
Cheltenham Town face an away trip to Grimsby on Saturday, with new signings Joe Rodon and Jake Andrews set to be named in the 18 man squad.
