A FRENZY of panic buys is not part of Paul Sturrock's January plan as he seeks a balance between improving his squad while not upsetting it.

The manager (left) knows supporters begin clamouring for fresh faces the moment the transfer window opens but he does not want a situation where he buys in haste and repents in leisure.

The fact that Town are currently in fourth spot in League Two, with minimal additions under Sturrock's reign (Sofienne Zaaboub and Michael Timlin) is not lost on the manager.

He said: "January is a long month. It's important we take stock of the situation and not rush into things and panic.

"We are competitive at the top of the league with the players we have at this minute in time.

"I would hate to think that all of a sudden I would affect the team spirit and team morale by obviously bringing new players in too quickly and for no reason.

"I've seen that happen too many teams.

"Tampering is the last thing I want to if it's going to affect things.'' He added: "Every manager makes mistakes in the transfer market.

"It's about making fewer of them so it doesn't affect your season.

"I would like to think that I would spread over a month rather than panic buy in the first week.'' "A lot of teams have chucked money at panic signings to appease fan bases.

"That's the wrong way to go.

"The carriage does not run ahead of the horses as far as finance is concerned.

"We will have to bolster our squad as we're a bit thin on the ground but it's an ongoing thing.

"I would like it to be a slow dripping roast as I would say.

"I want to slowly, slowly pick my targets.

"If I get them I get them.

"But I'm very comfortable in this board that if I said someone had slapped me in the face that I felt would be an out and out racing certainty to really really benefit this team, I think they might be receptive to that."