TOWN'S hopes of landing Luke Beckett appear to have risen with news that Oldham have cut their transfer kitty.

The Galpharm club's League I rivals from across the Pennines have first option on the frontman, rated at £85,000 by current club Sheffield United, who are keen to sell.

But new manager John Sheridan is said to be targeting five new faces for Boundary Park, making it less likely they will splash out on former loan favourite Beckett.

The 29-year-old, who scored six goals in seven games on loan to Town in 2004-05, is a confirmed target of Galpharm boss Peter Jackson.

Oldham, for whom he netted 18 times on a season-long loan last time around, are also keen on a permanent deal.

But Sheridan must work with a reduced budget - and Beckett, who still has a year to run on his Blades deal, will want to match Championship level wages.

One club certainly out of the running are Darlington.

Their manager David Hodgson said: "We have spoken but the player's financial conditions were way out of our league."