Everton boss David Moyes admitted he was 'letting his players down' through his failure to bring in any new signings during the off-season transfer window.
However, he insists he was still ready to put pen to paper on a new contract despite his frustration at not being able to bolster a squad that had finished fifth in the Premier League for the past two seasons.
A patched-up Everton side - including 16-year-old full debutant Jose Baxter - gained a 2-1 success at West Brom thanks to second half goals from Leon Osman and Ayegbeni Yakubu.
But Moyes is aware the Toffees have to make significant new additions to have any chance of moving onto the next level and challenging the top four.
"We're trying all routes. There might be some buys and there might be some loans but I said that six weeks ago and nothing has so far happened," Moyes said.
"It is the last days of the sales and there is not much left.
"I hope to try and get maybe a couple of players in but, for the quality I need us to get to continue forward, I don't know if you can get someone with a few days to go.
"I need to add mainly midfield and forward players to the squad. Our defenders today were the reason we got a result.
"I feel as if I've let the players down. I've got a real good relationship with the players and they know how I work.
"I got people like Tim Cahill, Mikel Arteta, Joleon Lescott, Phil Jagielka, Leon Osman, Tony Hibbert, Phil Neville all to build and have a group together on the understanding I'm going to progress Everton and make them better.
"At the moment, at this summer I'm not progressing Everton so I feel as if I'm letting them down.
"My ambition is to develop Everton. Every year I've been here I feel I developed. This is the first summer where I don't feel I've made any progress.
"My ambition is that I want to challenge the top managers in the league.
"We've not had massive amounts of money but we've got to the stage now where we require a greater deal if we are going to challenge the Liverpools, Chelseas, Arsenals, Manchester Uniteds.
"That is not withstanding the fact of trying to stay ahead of the Aston Villas and the Tottenhams who are flushed with it [money]."
Moyes is adamant he is still committed to signing a new deal - he has 12 months left of his current contract - despite his current frustrations.
"I'm still positive that I'll have a new contract to deal with shortly. I want to get this week out of the way before the transfer window closes.
"There is that much going on now, I couldn't put that into the middle of this week on the agenda, that's for sure.
"The situation is just the same. I am fine. I'll have a contract. There is a contract there. I've spoken to the chairman [Bill Kenwright]. When we get around to doing it, it is available to do."