James Beattie insists Stanley are still in a position to compete for their transfer targets despite falling behind with their tax bill.

The Reds’ boss dipped into his own pocket to bring the club’s HMRC payments up to date, allowing him to sign Kal

Naismith in time for the televised game with Portsmouth.

Beattie was reimbursed within a matter of days once Stanley received their latest solidarity payment from the Premier League, along with the TV money and gate receipts from the Portsmouth game.

The Reds’ finances are now in a healthier position than perhaps at any other stage in the season and Beattie claims his bid to continue improving his squad has not been affected.

The former England international was even hopeful of signing another player on loan in time for Saturday’s home game against Cheltenham.

“It was a private matter so I’m disappointed it was leaked,” Beattie said of the tax bill story, which was initially reported last week. “It was between me and the club, and I did it for the good of the club.

“Money’s come in now and hopefully we can utilise it and move the club forward. We’re investing in the academy system and trying to make it a more professional place to work, everything’s going in the right direction.

“We’ve still got finances to bring players in. I’ve got a budget to work with and the chairman’s been amazing, he’s given me his undivided support.

“I won’t spend cash if we haven’t got it. If I spend the cash wisely and utilise the loan market then there’s no reason why we can’t get top players in, especially with the contacts (assistant manager) Paul Stephenson and I have.

“I’m not just saying that to fill column inches. I’m always looking to bring players in – and that won’t change throughout the season.

“I’m happy to work with the budget I’ve got. I won’t ever moan about it because I believe in what we’re trying to do.”

While the five-figure sum Stanley received from Sky Sports for the Portsmouth game was a welcome boost, Beattie is dismayed they didn’t choose to return to Lancashire to broadcast next Wednesday’s Capital One Cup tie at home to Cardiff too.

Instead they’re showing Liverpool’s home tie with Notts County and Newcastle’s trip to Morecambe.

Stanley will still benefit from a bumper gate but the Cardiff game would have been worth around £100,000 if it was also shown on Sky.

“That would have been amazing financially for the club,” said Beattie. “For me it was a no-brainer because everything’s in place.

“All the equipment’s still there (after the Portsmouth game), the stanchions, the studio. They’ve already paid to install all that so if you can get another game out of it, why not?

“It’s also lower-league opposition against a Premier League side and we’re confident of pulling off a result.

“I think the lads deserved the reward of having another televised match for the performance they put in against Middlesbrough in the last round.

“But it’s still a great opportunity for the lads to showcase their ability and pit their wits against a Premier League side.”

Adult tickets are £15, over-65s £10 and students/under-16s £6, while for accompanied under-12s it’s just £1.

First, Stanley hope to claim their first league win of the season against Cheltenham, who will also have one eye on the Capital One Cup.

The Robins have an identical league record to Stanley, having drawn one and lost two.

Yet they beat Crawley in the cup and also face Premier League opposition next week. Mark Yates’ men visit West Ham on Tuesday night.

“The spirit in the camp’s good,” said Beattie. “People who say ‘how can you take positives from a game like that (Bury)’ obviously don’t know football.

“We’ve had some off-field problems but I don’t want that to impinge in any way on the players and everything’s been great this week.”

Although Nicky Hunt is out, the injury he suffered at Bury isn’t as bad as first feared.

The 29-year-old defender has tweaked his medial ligament and doesn’t require surgery so should only be out for four to six weeks.

Striker Danny Webber begins a three-match ban following his red card at Bury so Marcus Carver could return to the squad, with Dean Winnard or Peter Murphy expected to replace Hunt at right-back.