LEE CLARK was today considering his next potential moves in the transfer market following the £2m-plus sale of Anthony Pilkington to Norwich City.

Just a week after the 23-year-old asked for a move to the Premiership, Pilkington passed a medical and agreed a three-year top-flight contract at Carrow Road.

Clark – whose League I squad face their first pre-season friendly at Gateshead on Saturday – wished his former player all the best as the club pocketed what could be an initial record sum to beat Andy Booth’s £2.25m transfer to Sheffield Wednesday in 1996.

Clark would not be drawn on whether the sale opens up a new market for him on potential signings.

Clark, who has already brought in Calum Woods, Oscar Gobern and Donal McDermott, explained: “I have had fantastic backing since I’ve been here and never spent over the odds, contrary to some reports.

“Ultimately we are a League I club and we have to live within our means.

“At the end of the season I wasn’t thinking of doing lots of business, or not as much as in previous summers, but that’s changed a little bit because I’ve lost two important members of the starting XI (Lee Peltier to Leicester and Pilkington to the Canaries).

“We didn’t want that to happen, but you can’t hide good players and that’s the way it is. From our point of view we have our targets and if the right player becomes available within the conditions we do our normal business, then we will try and do it.”