Exeter City manager Paul Tisdale said it was unlikely the Grecians would bring in more players than Manchester United this summer.
City's inability to bring in new players was highlighted in the national media this week after a Manchester United fan pointed out that Paul Tisdale's side were the only club from the top four divisions of English football who had failed to make more summer signings than the Red Devils.
City were trending on Twitter on Monday and mentioned in many national media reports, who were criticising Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal, and vice-chairman Ed Woodward, for not bringing top quality players to Old Trafford.
At the time United, despite reportedly have £200m to spend on new players, had made just two signings - Luke Shaw and Ander Herrera.
They added Marcus Rojo this week, but City – whose only summer signing at the time was Graham Cummins – have also brought in a new player - Christian Ribeiro.
Tisdale's task has been made that much harder than Louis van Gaal's though by the fact that City have had a transfer embargo hanging over them until last Friday. Tisdale has also had to work with a reduced playing budget and is still searching for a new physio following the departure of Andy Proctor in pre-season.
So asked, with little over a week left until the end of the transfer window, if City might overtake Manchester United in terms of summer signings, Tisdale said: "If I was a betting man, and I'm not allowed to bet, then I would think Manchester United are more likely to make a signing.
"However, you just never know," he added "If there is a terrific player out there who wants to sign for us for nothing and his mum can pay for his digs, then maybe."
Speaking more seriously though, Tisdale added: "I don't think there is any scope in the budget to bring anybody in. I don't want to say no though, because you can never say never.
"However, the hand with have is pretty difficult. I'm weighing up recruiting a new physio and taking money out of the playing budget for that to get the physio we need.
"If there is a will there is a way, and there is always a way of signing someone. But we are stripping other areas to do it and it is a juggling act and you feel like you are continually moving the buckets to catch the drip and you just don't have enough buckets. That is what it feels like, but I think we can settle down.
"The biggest danger we have got is a run of injuries and of course you need a physio to make sure the players stay on the pitch, so it all goes hand in hand."
