Falkirk manager Eddie May remains in the dark over the funds available to his quest to keep the club in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

Chairman Martin Ritchie has admitted he may not have given May enough money following the summer departure of 14 players and will bid to raise more funds and reports claim Ritchie is set to free £500,000 for May after Falkirk went four points adrift at the bottom of the SPL.

"I've never been aware that there is one penny available in January," May said. "People have said about half a million, but I have never had one conversation with anybody at the football club in terms of an actual figure."

May, who saw the playing budget cut by a third following the exit of predecessor John Hughes, is hoping to re-sign striker Pedro Moutinho and is considering a move for trialist Pedro Pele.

But the Falkirk boss, who has been hit by lengthy lay-offs to experienced pair Jackie McNamara and Burton O'Brien, does not know how much cash he can spend.

He added: "All I've made them aware of is that we could do with more players. They gave us what they thought they had and might have thought it was going to be enough.

"Obviously it's not, and if there is money available, we'll look at it. If there's not, we'll just have to get on with it."

May's problems intensified with the news McNamara is out until Christmas with a knee injury and O'Brien will take two weeks longer to overcome a stomach injury.

Striker Kjartan Finnbogason has also joined Thomas Scobbie on the sidelines with a knee problem.