Manchester City's executive chairman, Garry Cook, admitted that, although the world's wealthiest club is far from where the new owners envisaged, their faith in the manager Mark Hughes remains absolute ahead of the January transfer window.

Three months after the takeover by Sheikh Mansour's Abu Dhabi United for £200m and the arrival of Robinho, ­Britain's most expensive footballer, they control the fourth most successful club in Greater Manchester, behind Wigan, Bolton and their great rivals United, who have just flown to Japan to contest the World Club Championship. Only goal difference is keeping them clear of the relegation places.

"It does surprise me where we are," said Cook. "But we knew it was not going to be a quick fix. A lot of people expected a light-switch to be flicked as soon as the club changed control. Yes, things have not gone according to plan but that does not mean we veer off our original strategy.

"Sheikh Mansour is in step with that and Khaldoon Al Mubarak [the club chairman] is absolutely in step with that. We know the second half of the season will be better than the first and we want to bring some depth into the squad."

How Hughes adds depth has been the source of frantic speculation. More than 50 world-class names, from Kaka to Gianluigi Buffon, have already been linked but the arrivals — at least in January — may be more modest. "We are talking about 'balance' rather than building the Fantasy League team," Cook said. "We are building on the academy; we are looking at young talent breaking into the international scene and we will complement that with some great stars, the kind of stars whom City fans want to see.

"But there is a 'Manchester City effect'. There have been speculative rumours about salaries and transfer fees and that has been affecting our ability to have normal business discussions." Cook is adamant that there will be no repeat of the signing of Jo, the Brazilian striker who was bought on the say-so of the club's previous owner, Thaksin Shinawatra.