ANDY KING will wade into the 586-strong PFA released list today after meeting Liverpool defender Andrew Nicholas, but he rejects any notion that clubs are simply free to dictate terms to players in the current climate.

Nicholas, 19, was expected to talk over a one-year deal with Town but the County Ground boss has dismissed the notion that a market awash with players means managers hold the upper hand in contract talks.

He said: "The fact is that all managers are looking to improve their respective squads and there may indeed be some quality on the PFA list.

"However, it is the quality players who will be snapped up first and they are the ones in a position to negotiate their terms.

"I have already seen several players on my wanted list snapped up by other clubs who can obviously meet the demands being made.

"Yes, clubs might be in a better position to offer smaller sums to some players on the list but the harsh reality is that many of them have been released because they are not wanted.

"Agents come into the equation as well."

King has had both good and bad dealings with the 'middle men' during his managerial career but he knows he cannot ignore them.

He said: "The game has changed so much.

"My first question to a player or an agent is a football question. Their first question is 'what's the package on offer?'

"It's incredible to me. I even had an agent on the phone the other day urging me to make my mind up about a young triallist I watched at the County Ground last month."

Loan deals as well as signings will form part of King's pre-season squad dealing plans, with the manager making no secret of his desire to secure the services of Manchester United's Jimmy Davis for another year.

The Old Trafford youngster enjoyed a successful three-month spell in Wiltshire last season but King knows there is no guarantee of luring him back for a second spell.

He said: "Premiership clubs will not be reporting back until later and managers are not going to start loaning out players to Andy King or anyone else until they have sorted their own squads out.

"So you are probably not looking at deals being done until the end of July."

Town's fixture list for the 2003-4 campaign will be released on Thursday, June 19.