Falkirk manager Eddie May has told his board of directors he needs more cash to strengthen the squad - but he will not lobby for any outlay that puts the club in danger.

The former Falkirk player has witnessed enough irresponsible spending at the club to realise there is no point taking risks with debt.

Falkirk slashed their playing budget by a third when previous boss John Hughes left for Hibernian and May is still looking for his first Clydesdale Bank Premier League win ahead of Sunday's visit of Celtic.

May's problems intensified this week when he lost Jackie McNamara (knee) for six weeks and Burton O'Brien (stomach) for two months, but he has atoned for the loss of Kjartan Finnbogason with a knee injury by re-signing Pedro Moutinho.

The Portuguese striker has received international clearance in time to face Celtic following his release by Maritimo and May could further add to his squad soon if he decides to take on trialist Pedro Pele, a 31-year-old former West Brom defender.

Chairman Martin Ritchie has admitted he needs to find cash to help May steer Falkirk off the bottom of the SPL but no figure has been discussed with the manager.

And May will not be unrealistic in his demands.

"You can't be selfish," May said. "Well, I could be selfish and say 'if I don't get this money we are not going to be any good as a football team'.

"It could cost me my job, it probably would. But the most important thing is Falkirk develop, keep in business and don't put the business at risk.

"If I go in and ask for a million pounds I could then keep Falkirk in the Premier League but it would be no use because we would then be out of business.

"There is a balance to be had and I can't dictate that. The only people that can dictate that are the guys who do the accounts and the board.

"The board will then instruct me there is X amount of money there and then it's up to me to get appropriate players in.

"I think we need a few players in and, if we can get them, we will be better for it. If we can't, we can't do anything about it."

May has helped Falkirk get to a position where they have held their own in the SPL for several years with his work as youth academy director.

And he does not want a return to the 1990s when Falkirk's over-spending almost cost them their existence.

"We have to work hard to keep our good players and develop ones who are here," May said.

"We can all go down the road of buying players. Falkirk did for years, but got relegated. I was in a team that got relegated.

"I was also part of a team that got promoted with investment that in the long term nearly forced the club out of business.

"So it's important we go in the right direction, and this is the best direction the club has been on for the last five or six years."