NICK Spooner admits he is on the search for diamonds as Hyde United look to kick on.
The Tigers missed out on the Northern Premier League Premier Division play-offs last season, finishing in ninth place.
Since then, several players have left – including his own son, Callum, who has dropped down a level to West Division side Bury.
But a number have also come in, including former Stockport County striker Nyal Bell.
And manager Spooner believes he will bring more new faces to the Project Solar Stadium before their opening league fixture against Lancaster City on Saturday, August 9.
Players who have attempted to make it at clubs higher up may also become a focus.
Spooner said: “We obviously we had to recruit.
“We lost some good players, some very, very good players who are hard to replace, but the boys who’ve come in are showing really, really well.
“We’ve just got to get a few more numbers in now, we’re still a very small squad and hopefully we’ll push on from there.
“I’d like two or three, I need players at the back and get a cover in midfield – and I’m hoping I’ll get them by the start of the season.
“It’s that time of year now where people have been having trials higher up the pyramid.
“They’ve not made it at a football club, so we’ll see what’s hanging about and hopefully we get some good diamonds.”
Hyde United round off their pre-season preparations with a meeting with traditional rivals Stalybridge Celtic on Saturday, August 2.
And Spooner hopes to see more edge up front after seeing opportunities goes astray last term.
He added to The Correspondent: “We did that all last year. We created a lot of chances and didn’t take them.”