CHIPPENHAM Town manager Nathan Rudge admits that his side will have to ‘beg, steal and borrow’ as they chase new signings this summer.

The Bluebirds boss has had his playing budget cut for the upcoming campaign and is concentrating on balancing the books whilst eyeing new recruits.

Long-serving defender Ashley Williams linked up with former Chippenham players Lewis Powell and Josh Egan at Mangotsfield United earlier this week and Rudge says that he won’t be held to ransom by the wage demands of potential new recruits.

“You can talk to players playing in leagues below ours and the money they’re asking for is ridiculous – sometimes, it’s higher than that of someone who’s proved themselves at higher levels,” said the Bluebirds chief.

“Back in the day, it was all about playing at the highest level but now, money talks.

“We’re sitting at the bottom of the apple tree and other clubs are going to have the pick of the apples at the top. When some of those apples fall down, then that’s the ones we’re going to have to go for.

“Some of those might be rotten but that’s what we’re going to have to work with because we don’t have the same budget as last year.

“At the moment, pretty much everyone has agreed to stay but there’s a lot of time for things to change between now and the start of pre-season – there are a couple who have asked for a bit of time to think about things.

“A lot of players will have to take pay-cuts, so we’re really going to have to beg, borrow and steal when it comes to bringing people in.”

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