Help us, Razor!

The Town boss labelled Saturday's 3-0 defeat at Luton as "atrocious" and he is desperate to provide his first choice players with some competition.

King feels fresh faces would provide the club with a lift but his hands are effectively tied until the issue of Ruddock's £58,000 loyalty bonus is resolved.

The manager accepts the player has a right to have his contract honoured but pointed to the example set by Watford's players.

The players at Vicarage Road accepted a wage deferral, acknowledging that the club was in a financial pickle.

King said: "If Neil was to make a big and brave decision to help this football club then obviously that is a help.

"But that is a decision for Neil Ruddock. At Watford, they asked the players for help. They could not force them to do anything.

"But however the situation is resolved, I need the embargo lifted immediately in order to bring players in to put the others under pressure."

The lack of depth in the Town squad has also been highlighted by assistant boss Steve Coppell.

The former Crystal Palace and Brentford boss is well aware of the embargo situation but feels it will be a struggle to turn the tide unless new faces are forthcoming.

He said: "The manager needs a couple of players to supplement the squad.

"It doesn't matter who you are or which team you are coaching, you have to have options other than the 11 you start with. At the moment, that isn't the case at this football club."

Chief executive Mark Devlin will meet with Football League officials this week to discuss the matter and a meeting with Andy King is also on the agenda.

He said: "We will sit down with Andy and see what options he wants to explore and what players he feels can help us.

"We are under an embargo but the Football League has to understand what a small squad we have and how injuries can leave Andy with a real headache. It's not as if we are wanting to just bring players in for the sake of it."