Megson looking to recruit

01 May 2009 14:29
Bolton boss Gary Megson has said he will be looking to strengthen the squad throughout the summer. The Trotters boss feels without significant improvement Bolton could languish in the lower half of the table once more. Megson wants to restore the team to the heights they reached during 2004-2007 when they finished eighth four times in a row. "We haven't got one of the smallest squads in the Premier League," said Megson. "We have THE smallest squad! "I think Liverpool have 62 professionals on their books while we have 27." But the former West Bromwich Albion boss is refusing to look at targets while Bolton are not mathematically safe from relegation. "It's important we make sure we're safe first and then we'll assess the season and see what needs to be done. "Player recruitment will certainly be one of the issues that will be addressed." Megson has enjoyed success in the transfer market so far in his Bolton reign. Gary Cahill, Gretar Steinsson and Matt Taylor all moved to the Reebok Stadium in January 2008 and helped the club to survive. Record signing Johan Elmander was brought in for £10million from Toulouse and Fabrice Muamba cost £5million from Birmingham. Both players have been hit and miss this season but Megson is still pleased with his acquisitions. "I've been pleased with all my signings because they've joined a club that wasn't on the up. "It was going the other way to be perfectly honest. "A lot of change has happened in the past 18 months but we still need more change because the squad still isn't strong enough." 'The Ginger Mourinho,' as Bolton's fans call him, has pointed to the draw against Aston Villa last weekend as an example of the club's spending policy. "I think the team is strong enough but if you look at our substitutes' bench last week against Villa it didn't cost a penny. "They were free transfers and a couple of kids who have come through the academy. "It's something that we need to address so that when we have problems then we are still capable of getting results."

Source: SKY_Sports