MICK McCARTHY has been told by the Sunderland board that the majority of his wheeling and dealing in the transfer market this summer will be done in the bargain basement.

The Black Cats - along with so many other clubs in football - have learned their lessons from big-money mistakes in the past when they were left counting the cost of relegation.

Now Sunderland are convinced they can compete in the top-flight without splashing the cash on high-earners.

And McCarthy knows three points from the game at home to Crewe this afternoon will guarantee the Wearsiders a play-off place.

But, even if Sunderland secure their spot in the Premiership via the end of season shoot-out, McCarthy will only be given a small transfer kitty to keep the Stadium of Light's finances in order.

The news came on the day the Division One club announced positive interim results for the six months ending January 31, 2004.

Despite having the highest wage bill in the league - of £17m - Sunderland have successfully stabilised the club's debts at around £36m, recorded an operating loss of just £1.5m and a profit before tax of £1.4m.

Vice-chairman John Fickling is fully focused on ensuring that Sunderland continue their turnaround in fortunes both on and off the pitch.

But if promotion is achieved Fickling believes they are more than capable of making good progress among this country's elite - pointing to Charlton's success under Alan Curbishley in recent years.

"We would have a little bit of money to spend but it's a question of taking advantage of the new regime in football," said Fickling.

"We are no different to a lot of other clubs. Take a look at what happened in the January transfer window - or what didn't happen.

"I think in the summer there will be the Van Nistelrooys going wherever for £20m but most of the clubs in the Premiership and in Division One will not be paying massive transfer fees.

"Things have changed now. Players are now offered temporary contracts, short-term contracts. There has been a realisation that there are no transfer fees.

"There's ways of surviving in the Premiership and not by throwing loads of money at it. You don't have to go out and spend vast amounts on the transfer fees.

"Provided you don't go up and spend masses amounts of money on long-term contracts there are ways of achieving what you want to without endangering the future of the club."

The club's drop into the Nationwide League has seen gate receipts take a 33 per cent drop (from £7.5m-£5m), as many fans were left frustrated by the demise.

However, Fickling insists the number of fans who turned their backs on a visit to the Stadium of Light had been expected.

But he has called for any stayaway fans to turn out in force for the final two home games of the season - against Crewe today and leaders Norwich on Tuesday.

"Our attendances this season are as what we would have expected. But they can make a big, big difference to the team," said Fickling, well aware that income from television and media rights was £6.9m down on a year earlier.

"We had a couple of disappointing seasons and you can understand fans' frustrations. At times we have had a couple of crowd attendances that were disappointing but we know a decent crowd can make a decent atmosphere.

"We have seen that when the fans do get behind the team it does make a massive difference. We have got two home games left and if we can get a decent turnout then that could help us get the points and get us in the play-offs."

The plc have forecast that by the time their 12 month results are announced it is still likely to show a loss before tax despite reaching the semi-final of the FA Cup.

But Fickling is pleased with how things have gone under manager McCarthy. He said: "If someone had said to me 12 months ago that we would be sitting here now in April 2004 in the situation we are then I'd have been very, very happy indeed.

"Especially when you consider the traumas of relegation and the problems we faced. The figures we have are for the first few months of the season really but the FA Cup run has been a nice little bonus for us as well. Not only has it helped the players' morale it also helped to put a few smiles on fans' faces.

"It's been hard work. The revenue, as expected, was cut by half because we were relegated to Division One.

"We knew we had to get our costs down and stabilise things as quickly as we could. We got Mick McCarthy in and really that was like a critical first move for this club.

"He came in, assessed the squad and he managed to move a lot of players on early. That enabled him to bring in a few of his own players in. We managed to pull that off quite successfully.

"Players are out of contract in the summer so it's inevitable that there will be new faces coming in whatever division we are in. That will create more flexibility at this club."