Glasgow head coach Franco Smith admits he is resigned to operating with a smaller squad next season because the club can’t afford to retain or replace all of their in-demand stars. Warriors announced this week that defence coach Pete Murchie and back-rower Henco Venter would both move on in the summer, with Murchie set for a reunion with former Glasgow coach Dave Rennie in Japan and Venter heading to France to sign for CA Brive. Scotland cap Tom Jordan will also depart for Bristol Bears, while No 8 Jack Mann is set for a move to Gloucester. The future is also uncertain for a number of other first-team regulars — including Matt Fagerson, Josh McKay, Kyle Rowe and Sebastian Cancelliere — whose deals are set to expire at the end of the season. Smith revealed that his budget is unchanged but says the value of his players and staff has risen on the back of Warriors winning the United Rugby Championship title last season. The South African — whose side host Munster tomorrow night as the URC resumes following the international break — conceded, however, that those financial constraints mean he can’t hold on to everyone or even replace them with like-for-like arrivals. Smith said: ‘You’re going to make me tearful here! It’s sad (when players and staff leave) but also a huge compliment to everybody that’s worked hard to give other people an opportunity to become better versions of themselves and maybe sign a bigger contract. ‘We must be proud of ourselves for that. If other opportunities arise for them, then fantastic. We must feel part of that contribution that we’ve given to them. That’s part of the game. ‘Currently our squad, due to budget size, is going to be smaller next year. Even if we find the right people to replace them, it’s whether we can afford them that’s the biggest problem. ‘It’s not a smaller budget. It’s the same budget. The players’ value has just gone up so much that it becomes more and more difficult to keep everybody within that. ‘We’ve got the squad reasonably decided for next year. Some people accepted the offers that we could give them and some got better offers. That’s basically what the situation is.’ Smith remains in the frame for the Wales head coach job and its Scotland equivalent should Gregor Townsend move on. He was coy, though, on what the future may hold for him personally. ‘For now, it’s status quo,’ he added. ‘There are 12 possible games left in this season. That’s the focus for now. If we’re going to get distracted with other things, we might fall short. I’m here at the Warriors. We’re going to climb in and make the best of every minute that I’m here.’ Glasgow return to the fray tomorrow for the first time since a narrow loss to Ospreys at the start of the month. There is a comeback after 15 months out for Tongan back-rower Sione Vailanu, while winger Kyle Steyn makes his first appearance since January. The news was less positive on Jack Dempsey, who missed Scotland’s final Six Nations game with France due to a hamstring injury. Smith said: ‘Jack had a recurrence of an old injury that’s been operated on before. We’ve sent him down to see the specialist again. He’s come back with a prognosis. We think it will be a four-to-six-week injury at the moment. It also depends on what route we follow.’ Sione Tuipulotu continues to make good progress in his rehabilitation from the pectoral injury that saw him miss the entirety of the Six Nations. Smith was reluctant to put an exact timescale on the Scotland captain’s return but expects him to be back in time to make his case to travel with the British and Irish Lions to Australia in the summer. ‘We all knew that Sione was going to do his utmost to be ready in time for the season to play good rugby again,’ said Smith. ‘He’s been progressing well. ‘He’s been running out on the field and slowly but surely creeping closer to a return date. He’s looking really good. Everything’s on track at the moment. ‘To put a timeframe on it now would be unfair to the medical group, and to him. It creates expectations. ‘But we don’t want him to reoccur an injury either. But he’s in contention to play for the Lions in the summer.’