SIMON Haworth has hinted Stalybridge Celtic will be fielding a new-look team next season.
Though Celtic’s manager has yet to finalise his retained list, he admitted he is looking to build a more experienced side.
And Haworth is hoping for a larger playing budget which will enable him to bring in a different type of player.
He said: “I have had preliminary talks with the board which have been encouraging and hopefully I will have more money.
“The budget has been unchanged in my three seasons at the club. It has been in the bottom four or five in the league.
“We aren’t going to be able to complete with South Shields who are going full time and the likes of Buxton, Basford and Matlock who all have money.
“There are probably two leagues in our division, the big spenders and the rest.
“It would be great to have a mid-table budget which would give us a chance of challenging.
“If we keep having a bottom four or five budget, sooner or later we will get our fingers burned and go down.”
Haworth added the financial constraints have been responsible for him having to bring in young players who are usually cheaper.
He has compiled a list of transfer targets but explained that he cannot proceed as most players are contracted with clubs until May 1, after which it will be an open market.
Haworth pointed out the planned wholesale changes had a bearing on not bringing the players back as some other clubs have done for training and friendlies.
“If we were keeping 80 or 90 per cent of the team, may be there might have been some purpose, but a lot of the lads will be moving on,” he said.
Haworth added he would like to keep hold of senior players like Stephen O’Halloran, Scott Sephton, Charley Doyle and Callum Harris.
Celtic organised an 11-a-side match on Saturday, April 24 featuring about 30 triallists.
Rather than being swamped by triallists pre-season, Haworth decided to have a look at them in match action.
He explained they included young players released by professional clubs and some footballers wanting to move up the non-league pyramid from a lower level.
Haworth added several impressed sufficiently to be invited back when pre-season training begins in June.