IF WE go up this season, would we have the funds to mount a challenge in the Championship? JV, Huddersfield

Jacko says: THE chairman, Ken Davy, has indicated the club is now on a firm financial footing and `self sufficient' as we look to the future.

I have to say that Ken and the board have always backed me in what I've wanted to do and I don't see any reason why that would change in the Championship.

Everything I've asked for since I returned to the club has been provided and everything I've wanted to do has received full backing from Ken and Andrew Watson.

Should we go up - and that's our aim in 2006 - then we would not be one of the richest clubs around in the Championship, that's for sure.

But I am sure we would be able to compete with the majority of them, given extra revenue from bigger gate receipts and sponsorships at that level.

I've also got massive faith in my squad to be able to play well and successfully in the Championship.

Since we played Worcester in the FA Cup, we've not picked up the points which we wanted to pick up and it's left us a few points behind the tally that I wanted at this stage, but we are still in a good position in the table and we definitely want to go up this time.

Even though we have had this blip, there are still an awful lot of matches to play.

I'm confident we can pick ourselves up again and get back to winning ways and, when we do, we'll have a fantastic position from which to build.

Our priority now is to do well over at Barnsley and then at home to Gillingham.

Then we can look forward to enjoying the occasion down at Chelsea before we get straight back into League action at Scunthorpe.

DO you think the FA and League should look at the fixture allocation and make sure clubs aren't making long journeys on nights and during holiday periods? Martin, e-mail

Jacko says: YES, I agree fully with what you are saying.

I think Wednesday's icy weather and 17 postponements - including three in the Premiership - was the straw that broke the camel's back for many people.

Charlton fans were stuck in Newcastle, Sunderland fans down in Blackburn and what about the Preston fans who had travelled down to Plymouth?

It doesn't seem to make sense because it's bad for the players and it's especially bad for the supporters.

When you consider that the fans who travel away are basically football's best customers, it doesn't seem a very good way to treat them.

Last year we had a similar problem when we had to travel down to Bournemouth between Christmas and New Year and I'm very relieved that we haven't got the same mileage to do this time around.

Others have not been so lucky and I recall reading a piece last week in which Alan Curbishley was very unhappy about Charlton having to play at Newcastle and Everton over the holidays before their FA Cup trip to Sheffield Wednesday.

I think this week's problems may well bring matters to a head because a lot of supporters are unhappy with the situation.

It might not be possible to have everyone playing locally at Bank Holidays and midweek nights, but I'm sure the fixture list could be improved to prevent too much travelling at these times.

It's something I'm sure my fellow managers would welcome as much as the supporters who spend a lot of hard-earned cash to get around.

IN which department would you most like to strengthen in the January transfer window? Joanne, e-mail

Jacko says: DEFENSIVELY I think we are okay with cover at centre-back and wide out.

In midfield, too, I think we have got decent back-up to cover for injuries and suspensions.

So if I was able to bring someone else in during the transfer window, it would more than likely be a striker.

A fresh face does tend to give the whole squad a lift and we have dried up a bit on the goals front recently, so it could be a significant boost for us at this time.

It's a matter of being able to get hold of the right person and, with that in mind, I have spoken to certain managers in recent weeks with a view to a loan deal.

As ever, it depends on what the clubs concerned can do in the transfer window themselves as to whether we can take someone on loan or not.

We'll have to wait and see.

DO you feel the Chelsea tie has subconsciously affected the squad and that's why we've hit the buffers recently? John, Dewsbury

Jacko says: I'D like to say no, because there is no logical reason in our daily work why it should.

On the other hand, when you look back in the fixture list, our last win was at Worcester City in the FA Cup and, immediately after the game, we were drawn to play Chelsea in the third round.

I'm not looking for excuses for our current blip, but a lot of people are talking about the Chelsea tie.

I am trying to keep it away from the players all the time and they've certainly not mentioned it a lot over the last few weeks.

Psychologically, though, in the back of their minds, perhaps it's only sensible to wonder if it has had an effect.

I suppose we will never know.

My only thoughts at the moment are on trying to win against Barnsley and Gillingham and get another six points on the board before we go down to Stamford Bridge.

These next two games are really big ones for us after the defeat to Port Vale.

It's disappointing to have had this blip, but we have to believe our rivals are going to suffer something similar at some stage and we have to be ready to cash in when they do.

It's about how we respond to what's happened and get out of this as quickly as we can, because we are desperate for a win.

WILL you have more spies watching Chelsea to make sure our gameplan is right? J Vasey, Huddersfield

Jacko says: WE had our chief scout, Brian Young, watching them against Fulham and we've also got a report from the Manchester City game, so we are on top of that.

I've also got a fair idea of what their options are from watching them regularly on TV, so I think we know what they are about.

We will have a plan in place before we travel - then it's just the simple matter of it working!

YOU said at the start of the season we needed a squad of 26 but, with players out on loan, we now have only 22. Is that enough? Chris, e-mail

Jacko says: I THINK the ideal size of squad would be 26 and, for most of this season, we have been operating with 25.

At the moment we've got 22 and I have to say I'm very happy with the make-up of our playing personnel.

We have cover in every area to deal with injuries and suspensions, although as I've already said I would like to look at bringing in another loan during the January transfer window.

A fresh face can provide a lift, but I'm very happy with my lads and, apart from recent results, with the season we have had so far.

They are an honest, hard working bunch who love playing for this club and I just hope we all - fans included - get what we are hoping for in 2006: Promotion!