BRIAN McDermott has called off his hunt for a new centre-back due to a lack of transfer funds.

Royals' boss wanted to strengthen his defence by signing one more players for a tough Championship campaign ahead.

It was thought McDermott wanted to bring Zurab Khizanishvili back to Reading following his loan spell from Blackburn Rovers last season.

But budgets constraints mean the 28-year-old Georgia captain could be priced out of Royals' range. Speaking exclusively to the Chronicle, McDermott stated: "We've got what we've got, it's as simple as that.

"With finances as they are, we have to do what we can. The fact is there is no money, and I'm alright with that.

"We have Alex Pearce and Matt Mills and Ivar Ingimarsson is coming back from injury.

"Andy Griffin has also been playing in central defence on pre-season tour and Brynjar Gunnarsson did an excellent job at centre-half in Tuesday's friendly game against a very good Slovenian club side.

"So I'm not disappointed at all. We have a great bunch of players and I'm absolutely chuffed with what I've got."

Skipper Ingimarsson and £2 million Doncaster Rovers signing Mills will almost certainly become McDermott's first-choice pairing in central defence next season.

However, Royals resources at the back would be stretched to the limit if injuries and suspensions kick in.

Therefore, McDermott may be forced to sell players to raise funds for the transfer market, with Dave Mooney and Shaun Cummings possibly set to leave.

But McDermott refuses to be downbeat, insisting: "I'm the opposite of disappointed. I only deal with the players I've got and nothing else. I certainly don't worry about what I haven't got."

Right-back Julian Kelly is a doubt for Saturday's friendly at Wycombe Wanderers (3pm ko) after picking up a thigh injury on the club's pre-season tour to Slovenia.

The tour ended in a disappointing 1-0 defeat to top-flight side NK Celje on Tuesday with Gorazd Zajc netting the winner.

Celje used rough-arm tactics protecting their lead and saw Dragutin Golob sent off with 10 minutes to go.

And they could have been down to nine when another player appeared to elbow Jay Tabb in the face, sparking a flare-up between both teams.

Meanwhile, Reading reserves won 3-0 at Staines Town on Tuesday thanks to a Nicholas Bignall brace and a Harry Harding strike.

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