Charlton's board of directors are backing under-fire manager Alan Pardew by releasing the purse strings and sanctioning loan signings ahead of Saturday’s match at Plymouth.

Pardew ruled out bringing players in on loan because of financial constraints but as the club slipped into the Coca-Cola Championship relegation zone following Saturday’s 3-1 home defeat by Barnsley, football club chairman Richard Murray confirmed that permission had been granted to bolster the squad.

“We are looking to bring in players on loan, possibly loan swaps,” said Mr Murray. “We are hoping to do some business this week, certainly in time for the Plymouth game."

But both Mr Murray and Pardew dismissed weekend speculation that Charlton were ready to swap midfielder Darren Ambrose for Ipswich Town’s former Real Madrid and Bolton midfielder Ivan Campo.

Mr Murray also rejected weekend national newspaper reports that a South African based consortium were interested in buying the club following last month’s collapse of takeover talks with Dubai-based Zabeel Holdings. The same consortium have also been linked with moves for Newcastle, Portsmouth and Fulham.

“I don’t know anything about this story, or where it came from,” said Mr Murray. “The word is out that we’re looking for a buyer after what happened with Zabeel so we’re going to be connected with plenty of speculation.

“But I can confirm that we are looking for a buyer.”

With Charlton in receipt of their final parachute payment following relegation from the Premier League two seasons ago, the club are desperate for new investment.

Hear the KM's Tony Hudd talking to kmfm's Patrick Gearey about the situation at the Valley after Saturday's defeat.