Avenue manager Carl Shutt is urging the club's board to iron out the budget for next season so he can steal a march on rival managers and recruit the players he wants at Horsfall Stadium.

Following the midweek draw against comfortable mid-table side Hinkley United, the Avenue manager insisted that he had the nucleus of his squad. However, he is keen to add quality players in key positions.

"We need to get the budget sorted now, we can't leave it too late," said Shutt.

"We know the areas that need strengthening and we have our targets in mind but there is nothing we can do yet. It would be sensible to wait until we know what kind of money is available because we want the best players in that bracket.

"At present I'm more worried about that than anything else. There are still decisions to be made about who stays and who gets released but they will be made soon."

The main problem is a forward who can find the net 20 to 25 times a season at least.

It is no secret that Shutt has worked all year long to find such a player. The manager is also looking for a left-sided midfielder, a central midfielder and a defender.

He is also keen to make new offers to most of his existing playing staff. He knows the relegation will have alerted other clubs.

Shutt wants concrete figures to put in front of the players when negotiations take place.

"I know all the managers at the League clubs and they are releasing players now. If we wait a couple of months they will have been snapped up.

"Most of them have already been told they can look for another club. If we can finalise next season's budget, we can start making offers to players."