DESPITE all that has happened in what has been a disappointing campaign so far, I've kept the faith.

As the poor form and the injuries gathered pace and the situation got bleaker in December I still kept the faith.

As our defence continued to leak the softest of goals and as our home form descended into the ridiculous I still kept the faith.

And why? Because the New Year brings the salvation of the transfer window.

A couple of astute bargains here and there and the worries of the previous months would be banished. Who knows we may even find a left-sided midfielder!

So as I write this, with the clock ticking ever closer to the deadline and no acquisitions to speak of, the wait goes on - though the club is talking to Sunderland's Michael Gray.

If there are to be any other signings aside from the England international defender, they are going to be at the last minute, and judging by the time they are taking they're not going to be the first or possibly second choice targets.

What seemed like an opportunity to strengthen in a few posotions is now slowly ebbing away and there's a distinct possibility we're going to have to 'run with' pretty much what we've got.

Granted, we're not as attractive a proposition as we once were and there's the well-documented shortage of money now, but is it really this bad?

We've just 'lost' two high wage earners in Grabbi and Baggio and the fans were led to believe this would fund new blood. That new blood that has yet to arrive.

Am I being overly sceptical in thinking this money has gone the same way as the summer transfer budget?

I understand that the manager has been frustrated, particularly with the McBride deal, but did he not have a Plan B lined up?

It would appear not at the moment and if a 31-year-old American is the height of our ambition, you can't help but be worried.

There are players out there who can change things and they don't cost the earth though.

Steve Bruce turned Birmingham around last season with the signing of Christophe Dugarry and then there's the master of the freebie Sam Allardyce.

While he's been out there persuading the likes of Jay Jay Okocha and Youri Djorkaeff to ply their trade at the Reebok, Souey has Kaba Diawara and 'Doorstep Challenge' Baggio on his CV.

Hardly inspiring when you consider that the majority of our future transfers are going to be low cost affairs.

Maybe Souey is to surprise us with a late transfer swoop in the next few days but, assuming that doesn't happen, what are the prospects in the near and distant future?

Well despite my pessimism I firmly believe that we'll stay up this year. Our defending can't get worse and there are three teams that are worse than we are.

The long term future will depend on the club's youth policy and Souey's ability to bring players in. Should these fail the consequences aren't worth contemplating.

I suppose we should look on the bright side though, Amo's coming.