Ipswich Town boss Mick McCarthy says free agent players seeking a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow could be left kicking their heels.

McCarthy has added out-of-contract stars Cole Skuse, David McGoldrick, Daryl Murphy and Jay Tabb to his squad this summer and is understood to be closing in on unattached duo Kirk Broadfoot and Joel Grant.

However, we understand McCarthy – who will be expected to make every penny count this summer following the introduction of new Financial Fair Play Regulations, and with the Blues almost £80m in debt – has been priced out of a move for out-of-contract goalkeeper Lee Camp and could face similar disappointment in his pursuit of other targets.

Despite this, the former Sunderland boss thinks player power could be waning and believes Championship clubs offering lucrative contracts will become a rarity.

“I am still looking (for players) but I have not been in a great hurry to do it, mainly because the right deals are not there,” said McCarthy.

“A lot of players will be surprised as they will be out of work come the start of pre-season and there are a lot waiting for the deal that they maybe think is there.

“But Financial Fair Play is having an effect and there has been nothing (in the transfer market) of any significance and we will wait to try and get the right deals.

“There was a time when Bosman deals offered a pot of gold but that’s not the case now.

“Some teams will push the boat out and sign them but you also have to coach and manage and get every last drop out of them.

“I would like to have them in before we go to Ireland (July 6) but we already have the nucleus of a good squad, we just want to add and change a few.”

McCarthy was speaking at Playford Road yesterday as his players, including transfer-listed Michael Chopra, returned to pre-season training.

Chopra has been told he can leave Town, along with Jay Emmanuel-Thomas who was missing, but clubs have yet to move for the pair.

McCarthy added: “No one is going to pay wages through May and June, so anyone who wants them will wait until the last knockings to take them.”