SAM Allardyce is continuing his search for defensive cover but although the quantity of players on offer is there, the quality is lacking.

The manager is keen to bring in an experienced defender in case Mark Fish is tempted away after refusing to sign an extension to his contract but so far has had no luck.

He thought he'd managed it last week when Sunderland boss Peter Reid gave him permission to take former Bury defender Paul Butler on loan but the player turned the move down.

"It was the lad's decision. If the deal had been a permanent one he would have considered it but we've not got the type of money Peter Reid wants for him."

Allardyce's search now goes on but the manager is adamant he only wants those who are better or at least as good as what he's already got.

"There's nobody we can bring in because we can't buy them for the kind of money they are wanting and we can't get them on loan.

"That was the problem with Paul Butler which was a pity because there are not many like him about."

Another example of that scenario was Mark Hughes, who last week joined Blackburn Rovers on a loan deal from Everton.

The Welsh striker made an immediate impact scoring twice on his debut in the midweek game against Tranmere Rovers.

Allardyce admits he would have loved to have signed the player. "But I knew we couldn't afford the wages so there was no point in even trying," he said.

"It would have been very nice if we could have brought somebody with his experience and quality to the club because personally I think he'll go on and score a lot of goals. I know he's finding it a little more difficult to do that in the Premiership now but it's a lot easier down here than it is up there."

In contrast Allardyce also pointed out the pitfalls that can be found when managers do have money to spend in the transfer market.

Alan Smith, manager of Saturday's opponents Crystal Palace has had in the region of £4m to spend on new players and to bring in the likes of Steve Staunton and Neil Ruddock on loan deals but he's under pressure because they've not yet performed as they can do.

"We've seen Tony Pulis sacked at Portsmouth for having a few bob to spend and not getting results. You have to remember when you do have money and you spend it, it's not an instant situation where all of a sudden results start to appear.

"Unfortunately that's what they are judged on," he said.

"I can't understand why a businessman, who is in football, expects instant success. Businesses have to be built up before they start showing a profit and it's the same in football. It doesn't happen in two or three weeks, It takes months and sometimes years so the impatience of the media and, particularly, chairmen, surprises me.

"You can't always get immediate results and what's happened at Blackburn Rovers is a great example of that.

"Brian Kidd didn't manage to stay in the Premiership and for whatever reason had to change the whole of the side. Old players went out and new ones came in but ultimately he struggled to get results because it was a bunch of new players. Now I think they are getting it together more and more. They are sneaking up the table with the same bunch of players they had last year but now they're beginning to look like a unit and are starting to function together. It always takes time but unfortunately the only way you get a bit of time in this business is by getting results."