FOOTBALL managers are by nature a wheeler-dealer bunch, especially at non-league level.

It's part of the job and the maxim that you are only as good as your contacts (toss in budget to that equation as well) stands up to scrutiny.

That's why when you cast a glance at any club boss, they invariably have a mobile phone clutched to their ear as they bid to thrash out the next deal.

The best deal-makers get their players -- whatever it takes.

Barry Fry in his Dunstable days reportedly bought a player from Ron Atkinson at Kettering for a case of champagne.

At cash-strapped City it's more likely to be a crate of ale than champagne but either way John Barton must act to bolster his squad.

Unfortunately with Worcester's current predicament he has the unenviable task of having to off-load players before he can bring new faces in.

If, or should that be when, the St George's Lane boss takes such action it will be a wrench because the spirit and camaraderie in the City dressing room is it's strongest point.

While Barton is never slow to give his players a dose of verbals when they are not performing - some are still smarting from the hour-long grilling following the 5-1 defeat to Newport -- he has never questioned their commitment and loyalty.

But football is ultimately a ruthless affair as a catalogue of unemployed managers from Peter Reid at Leeds to Tommy Saunders at Chippenham Town will confirm.

And recent results suggest that Barton and City require new additions -- urgently. A record of 15 points from the last 39 bears that out. The upshot is that pressure is increasing on Barton who admits his side badly needs a win.

Four wins from 13 games does not exactly set the pulse racing and it is only one less than Saturday's opponents Hednesford Town have managed in their last seven matches.

Fortunately Barton's track record for signings is good and stands up to close inspection.

Summer signings Leon Kelly and Barry Woolley have both been successes, while Adam Wilde, Pat Lyons, David Foy and John Snape all made favourable impacts in their first seasons though Foy's was marred by injury.

Before that the capture of the gangly but skilful Adam Webster has proven a shrewd acquisition and in Danny McDonnell City possess the best goalkeeper in the Dr Martens Premier Division.

One other important factor in making new signings is the personal standing of the manager but that may be the only factor in Barton's favour in the coming months as he continues to juggle a budget that leaves little room for manouevre.