As he looks for the final pieces in the jigsaw ahead of the transfer deadline at the end of the month, he reveals: "I need to bring in players that have that a great motivation, that still want to do well when playing.
"It will not be easy because the foreign market is such that the big clubs in Europe are trying to reduce their squads greatly and are throwing star players at you.
"It might seem good, but if you take the wrong characters in you are lumbered with these players.
"The right thing to do is all the homework you can, the phone checks, and you should obviously have knowledge of his ability anyway.
"But you need to know he is a sound, motivated character - or else leave them where they are."
Although he is reducing the average age of the squad, he admits that in terms of attitude he is looking for players who compare to the club's oldest outfield player.
"I think we have got a really good example of an enthusiastic footballer in Nigel Winterburn. We signed him late in the day and it is fine for me to say he took a big reduction in salary.
"But looking at him in pre-season he doesn't play with any less motivation, because Nigel is that sort of person.
"Once the game starts it has got nothing to do with how much he is earning, it is about performance, the team winning - all the things you want."