Darlington manager Tommy Taylor admits he faces a summer struggle to build a stronger squad as agents exert their ever-increasing influence.
As the season approaches its climax, clubs and mangers are already sounding out prospective new recruits but Taylor knows he must use all his guile in the transfer market in the coming months to attract quality to Feethams.
"Some agents would prefer to not let their client play for a club if he's offered less money at a new club than he's already on," said Taylor. "Even if a player has been released on a free, if he's been on a certain amount of wages at his last club they're expecting to get the same at their new club.
"Some of theses players won't have job all the way through the summer until the day before the start of the season and then they'll phone a manager up and ask to sign the deal they were offered months ago."
Despite the hurdles he believes agents are creating, Taylor remains adamant he can build a stronger squad within the tough inancial constraints of chairman George Reynolds.
"There were a lot of players at the club when I came but overall the quality wasn't great,'' said Taylor.
"The squad is going to be smaller next season but if we can get 22 professionals that are better that the 31 or so we have now, we'll be happy. I want five new players. I'm determined to get things done because the club has potential and there are some good players here - when everybody is fit."
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