IAN Holloway has praised Millwall chairman John Berylson for financing his January rebuild.
The Lions made eight additions to their squad during the transfer window, which closed on Monday, and Holloway could target further signings when the loan market opens next week.
Leeds midfielder Michael Tonge and Tottenham goalkeeper Jordan Archer joined until the end of the season before the 11pm deadline.
Berylson also forked out on contract settlements for Paul Robinson, Jermaine Easter, Josh Wright, Stephen Bywater and Scott McDonald during a hectic month.
Holloway had hoped to bring in one more striker and looked at several options playing in foreign leagues.
One possibility, Dutch second division forward Kevin van Veen, joined Scunthorpe instead after Holloway decided he did not know enough about the 23-year-old.
The Lions boss, who said Berylson would have fully supported a cash deal for a goalscorer, wants to broaden the club’s recruitment network before the summer.
“We were in for lots of people and one or two of them fell at the final hurdle but I’m very pleased with the backing I had and the players we’ve brought in,” Holloway said.
“The likes of van Veen we need to know more about and we didn’t know him well enough. I wasn’t ready to committ the chairman’s money because we hadn’t seen him enough.
“Without knowing about him and his character, it’s difficult. Last summer, we were totally confident that Lee Gregory was the right one, without a shadow of a doubt.
“Gregory has come on in leaps and bounds and he will definitely score when I get this balance right.
“I will look at loans but in terms of the buying market, there wasn’t anybody that I wanted to buy for a fair bit of money.
“I would’ve done, and the chairman would’ve given me the money if I’d found the right person to come, but there’s no point getting somebody who isn’t going to balance you out.”
Holloway is looking to bring in loan cover for injured winger Paris Cowan-Hall, who might not play again this season.
“One thing I didn’t get on Monday, which I feel we need, is someone who can run with the ball in the wide areas,” he said.
“That was Cowan-Hall but now he’s injured, so we’ve lost that. I’ll have to replace that if I can.”