Paul Tisdale admits his frustration at not being able to bring in new players during the January transfer window has been tempered by the fact he now has a fully-fit squad.

Tisdale says he understands the financial realities of managing the Devon club and points to a drop in crowds – Exeter’s average attendances are more than a 1,000 less this term – as the main reason he is unable to invest this month.

While he insists he has given little thought to the budget squeeze, he admits he would have been a lot more disappointed had his squad been depleted like it was at the start of the campaign.

“I would be frustrated if we had injuries and we desperately needed to bring a player or two in,” the City manager said. “But that’s not the case. We’ve got a fully-fit squad now and there is plenty of competition for places, so it is a nice position to be in.

“I know the reality here and I have not questioned it. I have not really thought about it because I’m aware of exactly where we stand and how the club functions with finances.

“If I spent too long thinking about it, I would get frustrated so we have just got to make the best of what we can do. The most important thing for me is that next year’s playing budget will be affected because we are getting smaller attendances.

“Hopefully that can change between now and the end of the season because the money we make through the turnstiles goes back into the playing budget. January is going to be a quiet month for us because our gates have been down in the first half of the season. If the gates had been what they were in previous years, then we might have signed a player or two, but we can’t do that.”

Tisdale has made it abundantly clear that City would have to sell players to bring fresh faces into the club.

Although the manager’s official rhetoric is that he is not looking to trade in any of his current players, the club’s money men would welcome a decent offer for one of the club’s talented youngsters.

“We are not looking to sell any of our players, but we are a club that has to sell players at the right price. We are a club that develops players,” Tisdale admitted.

“If we get a good offer for one of them, then we have to accept it. It doesn’t take much to work out the four or five players that would be of interest to other clubs. But at the moment I’m not giving it much thought, because we’ve had no offers.”

Tisdale is hopeful of being able to call upon Liam Sercombe for Saturday’s npower League One trip to Oldham Athletic, after the midfielder suffered an injury in last Saturday’s goalless draw with Hartlepool United. He also faces a dilemma over whether to bring John O’Flynn back into the side, or stick with Richard Logan in the central striker role.

The City boss was impressed by O’Flynn’s contribution from the bench against Hartlepool, and he hopes left-sided striker Daniel Nardiello can continue with his improvement. “Daniel looked brighter after half-time on Saturday and he is looking brighter with every game he plays,” Tisdale added. “John O’Flynn was probably the brightest of the front players and has made a claim for a shirt back in the side, no doubt.”

Logan opened the scoring for Exeter in yesterday’s 2-0 win over Bristol Rovers in a reserve-team friendly at the Grecians’ Cat and Fiddle training ground. Jimmy Keohane added the second goal two first-half minutes later.

Paul Tisdale admits his frustration at not being able to bring in new players during the January transfer window has been tempered by the fact he now has a fully-fit squad.

Tisdale says he understands the financial realities of managing the Devon club and points to a drop in crowds – Exeter’s average attendances are more than a 1,000 less this term – as the main reason he is unable to invest this month.

While he insists he has given little thought to the budget squeeze, he admits he would have been a lot more disappointed had his squad been depleted like it was at the start of the campaign.

“I would be frustrated if we had injuries and we desperately needed to bring a player or two in,” the City manager said. “But that’s not the case. We’ve got a fully-fit squad now and there is plenty of competition for places, so it is a nice position to be in.

“I know the reality here and I have not questioned it. I have not really thought about it because I’m aware of exactly where we stand and how the club functions with finances.

“If I spent too long thinking about it, I would get frustrated so we have just got to make the best of what we can do. The most important thing for me is that next year’s playing budget will be affected because we are getting smaller attendances.

“Hopefully that can change between now and the end of the season because the money we make through the turnstiles goes back into the playing budget. January is going to be a quiet month for us because our gates have been down in the first half of the season. If the gates had been what they were in previous years, then we might have signed a player or two, but we can’t do that.”

Tisdale has made it abundantly clear that City would have to sell players to bring fresh faces into the club.

Although the manager’s official rhetoric is that he is not looking to trade in any of his current players, the club’s money men would welcome a decent offer for one of the club’s talented youngsters.

“We are not looking to sell any of our players, but we are a club that has to sell players at the right price. We are a club that develops players,” Tisdale admitted.

“If we get a good offer for one of them, then we have to accept it. It doesn’t take much to work out the four or five players that would be of interest to other clubs. But at the moment I’m not giving it much thought, because we’ve had no offers.”

Tisdale is hopeful of being able to call upon Liam Sercombe for Saturday’s npower League One trip to Oldham Athletic, after the midfielder suffered an injury in last Saturday’s goalless draw with Hartlepool United. He also faces a dilemma over whether to bring John O’Flynn back into the side, or stick with Richard Logan in the central striker role.

The City boss was impressed by O’Flynn’s contribution from the bench against Hartlepool, and he hopes left-sided striker Daniel Nardiello can continue with his improvement. “Daniel looked brighter after half-time on Saturday and he is looking brighter with every game he plays,” Tisdale added. “John O’Flynn was probably the brightest of the front players and has made a claim for a shirt back in the side, no doubt.”

Logan opened the scoring for Exeter in yesterday’s 2-0 win over Bristol Rovers in a reserve-team friendly at the Grecians’ Cat and Fiddle training ground. Jimmy Keohane added the second goal two first-half minutes later.