Mark Lawn today stressed that City might have to move players out to bring others in because of the tight financial fair play rules.

The current wage bill of Phil Parkinson’s squad is just under 60 per cent of the total income – the ratio limit that is now imposed on League One clubs. There is probably enough room for one more addition, although City will need the Football League’s approval because they are over the 55 per cent mark.

But after that, any incomings would have to be balanced with similar wages being saved elsewhere.

City are looking to loan out Luke Oliver for match practice and others could follow.

Joint-chairman Lawn said: “We are very nearly at the limit so everything we spend now has to be cleared by the league.

“We might be able to bring in one more but that’s it. It would depend on the wages and any loan fees, unless we get someone for nothing with the other club prepared to pay. Otherwise, we’ll have to look at getting some of the others out to reduce the wage bill we’ve got.”

A similar wage-cap system has operated in League Two for several seasons but this is the first time it has been introduced in the third tier.

The clampdown follows the financial collapse of the likes of Coventry and Portsmouth.

Clubs are also not allowed to carry forward any profit from previous seasons – which hits City after their Wembley exploits.

Lawn added: “That’s the disappointing thing that it’s got to be windfall generated from this year – like cup games. Unfortunately we’ve lost those two.

“So you have to look for other income such as sponsorship for the stand and larger home attendances. That sort of thing counts straight away – and would mean the 60 per cent would go further.”

The emergency loan window reopens on Monday and Parkinson is keeping close tabs on when the Premier League sides announce their 25-man squads.

His focus is likely to have been sharpened by the JPT horror show at Hartlepool on Tuesday – a night where none of the fringe players emerged with any credit.

Parkinson cancelled the usual day off yesterday for an inquest into the many areas that went wrong.

Parkinson said: “I reminded the players that this is our livelihood.

“Whichever players get selected on Saturday, we need a proper Bradford City performance where we play with commitment from the first minute to the last whatever the score.

“If we win, great, but I want to get back in the dressing room afterwards and say we absolutely ran ourselves into the ground. We won’t accept what happened at Hartlepool again.”

Nahki Wells will find out tomorrow if his fast start to the season has earned him the League One player of the month award for August.

Despite the constant rumours, he is still at Valley Parade after the transfer window.

Lawn said: “It’s important (we kept him) because he is the spark in the side.

“Nahki is the lad that makes the movement that creates space for himself and others as well. Something he does can get the crowd going.

“Let’s forget about Tuesday. We’ve got to look ahead to a hard game against Brentford.

“It was a bad day at the office but I’m sure Phil will sort that out.”