OXFORD United have money to spend on new signings if required next month, according to owner Sumrith ‘Tiger’ Thanakarnjanasuth.

The Thai businessman travelled to the UK for the Boxing Day defeat to Southend United and will also attend today’s home game with Bristol Rovers before flying home.

It comes at a crucial moment, with the transfer window opening next week.

Boss Karl Robinson said earlier this month players would have to leave to make room for additions.

While some existing loans may be cut short and others on permanent deals could leave on temporary spells, Tiger insists there is scope for investment.

After already securing a move until the end of the season for winger Jordan Graham, which begins on Wednesday, more additions are expected with the aim of a strong second half of the campaign.

The U’s chairman said: “We have been working on the January window for a month.

“We’ve started with Jordan Graham and we still have two or three coming.

“We want to loan some out to get more experience.

“If he (Robinson) needs to spend some money to strengthen the team, then we’ll do it.”

He added: “I still think we should get to (the) top ten. But you never give up and if we get another 48 points we can still go to the play-offs. You have to aim high.

“If not this season then next season it’s our aim to get promotion.”

It has emerged in the past few days that United are spreading the recruitment net further afield.

Robinson admitted his trip to Belgium last weekend did not go exactly as planned, but it was an area of interest.

He said: “There are players we like in all different areas.

“The north of France, Belgium, south-west Holland is a really gettable place for us. Sometimes it’s easier for us to get there than it is to Liverpool or Manchester.”

The possibility of spending money comes hot on the heels of United being served with a winding-up petition by HM Revenue & Customs over a bill of almost £150,000.

It was paid before the High Court hearing and Tiger, who put the issue down to external factors over moving the money into the UK, is optimistic it will not be repeated.

He said: “It was the transfer process. I don’t think it’s going to happen again.

“It’s all sorted.”