KEN Anderson says the days of big-money contracts at Wanderers as “long gone.”

Reflecting on the decision to part company with ex-skipper Jay Spearing, the Whites chairman explained the club was sticking to a wage structure which he feels can end the days of big financial losses at the Macron Stadium.

Anderson claims £5million has already been saved on the playing budget following the release of several players in the summer.

But he insists this season’s squad will be stronger than the one which gained promotion from League One.

“I have mentioned on several occasions before that the club has already embarked on a new era of financial stability and commercial prudence. It was very unfortunate that we had to let a number of players go at the end of last season but the facts are the club is not in a position to pay the salaries it has in the past and that we have to live within our budgets.

“The days of paying players £20,000 per week are long gone for us and we are now working within affordable salary caps that have reduced the playing budget substantially,” he said.

“Although we are now paying affordable salaries, in my opinion the quality and Championship experience of the players we now have is of a higher level than that of last season at a substantially reduced cost. Indeed, we have saved circa £5m on the players that have now departed even allowing for the cost of replacing the majority of them.”

Referring to Spearing’s exit, which was confirmed by the club this morning, Anderson thanked the midfielder for his services.

“I’d like to place on record our thanks for his service to the club over the past several years,” he said. “Unfortunately, we weren’t able to come up with an agreement for him to stay but we all wish him well for his future.”

Anderson has confirmed both he and Dean Holdsworth have signed off accounts for 2015/16, which are now with the club’s auditors to be filed at Companies House.

“I hope this will assist us in getting the embargo removed as soon as possible,” he added.

The chairman also remains hopeful a four-week adjournment for the winding-up petition filed against Sports Shield BWFC will give him time to seal a deal to buy both Dean Holdsworth’s shares and barter an agreement with BluMarble over their overdue £5million loan.

“Negotiations with BluMarble are ongoing and we are still optimistic that a settlement will be achieved as they have agreed to my request for an adjournment of Monday’s Winding Up Petition hearing to enable both parties to continue negotiations.

“Likewise, if and when this is settled it will greatly assist the club in getting the embargo lifted. I must emphasise the WUP relates to Sportshield BWFC and not the club or Inner Circle Investments Ltd as has been incorrectly reported elsewhere.”