Signings will be key to keeping Cutchy, says Ferguson

The timing of the managerial changeover at the Showgrounds has meant that the Scottish striker’s contract has crept into its last six months - the deadline at which other clubs can legally approach the player with a view to signing him at the end of his current deal - and the country’s leading goalscorers is unlikely to be short of potential suitors.

“I spoke to Gary after Saturday’s game and told him how much we think of him and how keen we are to keep him at the club,” Ferguson told Times Sport.

“He told me he likes the club but he pointed out that at his age, he needs to know what additions are going to be made in the squad to improve it.

“It’s not a money-motivated issue at all - he wants to play in a team that is capable of challenging for honours, particularly as he knows his next contract could be the last one of his career.

“The ball is in his court and he says he wants to keep his options open - I have asked him not to rush into a decision to sign for anyone else until we have come back to him with our offer.”

Ferguson admits that the lack of funds available in United’s wage budget isn’t making it easy to sign players in the current transfer window.

“There’s been nothing yet – the financial situation dictates who you can bring in and contracts dictate who you can let go but at this stage there’s no-one coming in,” said the manager, who ran his eye over Glentoran’s transfer-listed central defender Johnny Taylor and free agent midfielders Andrew Kilmartin and Alan Davidson in training last week

“I’ll keep searching but unfortunately they’re not about at the moment with the budget we have.

“I brought those guys in to have a look at them and freshen up training with a few new faces but unfortunately we aren’t any nearer to signing defenders or strikers, which would be our priority.”

It seems likely that Ferguson will instead embark upon United’s opening JJB Sports Irish Cup hurdle at Lisburn Distillery this Saturday with the same panel of players who played in his debut defeat by Linfield on Saturday - minus midfielder Mark Surgenor and left-back Richard Vauls, both of whom are serving one-match suspensions.

Ferguson played in an amazing NINE Irish Cup finals as player - winning five and losing four - and he is keen to continue his love affair with the competition as a manager.

“All the pressures of the league are taken away for a week.

“Obviously I know a lot about the Distillery team having been there over the last couple of years but I’m sure they’ll have their own agenda and will want through to the next round of the Irish Cup as much as we will.

“Teams like Dungannon and Coleraine have got to the Irish Cup final in recent years – it’s not a foregone conclusion that it’s going to be Linfield and Glentoran or Linfield and Portadown in the final.

“The cup can be very lucky to some teams – you can get yourself a good draw the whole way through and get to the final so we’re certainly not ruling anything out,” added Ferguson.

Seven Towers Supporters’ Club transport to Saturday’s match leaves Henry Street car park at 1.45pm.