Coventry City manager Micky Adams is hoping to persuade acting chairman Geoffrey Robinson to unlock the funds that might see the Sky Blues through their current injury predicament.

Adams is already without three players for tomorrow's visit of Hull City to the Ricoh Arena, as well as having doubts over another four.

He suffered another setback on Wednesday night when, just 24 hours after making for his first team debut against Crystal Palace, promising youngster Kevin Thornton was sent off playing for Coventry's reserves.

It has left Adams having to turn to two non-contract players in Paul Watson and the vastly experienced Andy Impey, both of whom are playing only for appearance money.

Following this week's announcement that chairman Mike McGinnity has taken a month's rest on health grounds, Adams admits that he's looking forward to sitting down and enjoying a first proper chat with the Sky Blues' stand-in boardroom chief Robinson to discuss potential loan signings.

"It's well worth a discussion, isn't it?" said Adams.

"I don't see any other club in this league with non-contract players.

"In an age when footballers get smashed all over the place in terms of publicity over how greedy they are, it's worth pointing out that we have the opposite. We have two lads who are not on salaries with us and could quite easily get injured playing for us for nothing."

Having allowed Adrian Williams and Stern John out on loan and missing long-term absentees of Stuart Giddings and Neil Wood, Adams is also without veteran Richard Shaw tomorrow. To compound his problems, he now has a doubt over two of his midfielders.

Skipper Stephen Hughes, whose return to action with two games this week have left him with soreness in the back and hip area, is rated only 50-50, as is Michael Doyle, who has a calf problem.

Marcus Hall and Matt Heath are also doubtful, although Adams has had better news over Richard Duffy, who did train yesterday.

Adams has been upset by the behaviour of young Thornton, who was sent off against West Ham United reserves at the Ricoh Arena.

"I'm not going to pussyfoot round it," said Adams. "He's got to learn his lesson.

"When you're 5ft 7in, you can't be a hard man and put your head into people. It won't be tolerated at this club, and he's been told that in no uncertain terms.

"The boy had a fantastic opportunity to stake his claim. He came on and did terrifically well the other night, then he goes and does something stupid.

"The biggest punishment is that he won't be involved in the first team and when you look at our list of injuries, he had a great chance to establish himself in the squad."