Leeds already counting cost of limited budget

The club this week launched a county-wide appeal for a cash injection of 1m after revealing their successful gamble to avoid relegation had left a budget deficit of 1.2m.

Increased central funding of 1m is to go straight into servicing that debt and the club hope they can match that figure from local investment and put it straight into strengthening the squad for a top-six push next season.

Head coach Back has promised potential investors he can deliver Heineken Cup qualification for the 2011-12 campaign, but warned he is facing a race against time to bring big-name players to Headingley as clubs with more certain resources are in a stronger position.

Back revealed that Leeds have already missed out on signing Ireland scrum-half Peter Stringer from Munster because they could not assure him, or other potential signings, of whether they will have a budget of nearly 4m for next season, or 2.8m.

The 1m, according to the club, represents the difference between challenging for a top-six place or battling against relegation.

"Recruitment is proving very difficult because we don't know at what level we'll be competing at next season," said Back.

"An example of that is Pete Stringer, who is one of a number of people we've spoken to.

"We couldn't tell him whether we'll have the budget to be competing at the top of the Premiership or at the bottom.

"He wants to play in the World Cup next autumn for Ireland and puts that first.

"If we had the finances in place three, four months ago we could have had our squad sorted already for next season."

Shortly after ensuring survival with victory over Worcester 11 days ago, Leeds announced the first raft of summer departures.

England scrum-half Andy Gomarsall – who is expected to play his final game before retirement at Bath on Saturday – was among the early departures.

Leeds have released 14 players but have also agreed contract extensions with scrum-half Scott Mathie, centre Lee Blackett and second row Jonathan Pendlebury.

Their recruitment policy will be based on quality rather than quantity and they hope to announce new arrivals soon, but Back conceded the budgetary juggling act has been an onerous task.

"We have got a budget and we are trying to stretch that," said Back, whose prioirities in the transfer market will be a scrum-half and a second-row, with lock Erik Lund expected to move to France.

"We are having to be really smart with the players we bring in. For the right player we will spend what we need to spend, but that might mean we will have to move someone else out of the squad.

"It's a balancing act. Even if we got the investment we wouldn't necessarily spend the whole 4m of the salary cap, but we would need to get close to that.," he said.

"We need to move this club forward, and if we don't get that money we will be scrapping at the foot of the table again next season.

"First half of this season we were a bottom-of-the-league team. Second half, our form was top-four.

"To do that consistently over a season we need a more experienced squad and that costs money.

"We have shown we can beat the best, but to do that throughout a season we need more depth.

"The teams at the top have a bench of players that have 150 caps between them. We don't even have that in our entire squad."

Back and the coaching staff, along with the board, will meet potential investors at a meeting on May 13.

He said: "We will demonstrate to those people and any others who want to help that we have got a good foundation to build on.

"Potential investors can be part of something special, a club on the up and, hopefully, a club that will be competing at the top end of the Premiership."

Premier Rugby last night met to discuss expanding the salary cap – which stands at 4m – for the 2011/12 season.

Any increase would put further strain on Leeds's chances of fulfilling their Heineken Cup ambitions and Back said: "The Premiership salary cap has not changed for three years but the price of players has in that time, so you're having to be smarter with your money.

"If you take the salary cap off, some clubs would go to the wall with potential overspend.

"So it should remain as it is," he added.