Guiseley acted quickly to make two new signings this week but they have also released four players as manager Mark Bower reshapes his squad for the coming season.

The Lions are looking to mount a fifth tilt for promotion to the Conference Premier Division following four consecutive play-off heartbreaks.

They pounced to draft in defenders Danny Lowe and Ryan Toulson following their release from neighbours FC Halifax Town, who pipped them to promotion the season before last.

Lowe is a former Shaymen skipper, while Toulson returns to Nethermoor for a second spell with the Lions.

Players making the exit include Rhys Meynell, Jack Rea, Michael Potts and Macaulay Parkinson, all of whom played a good part in the season just ended.

Tough decisions have had to be made by former Bantams skipper Bower as he gets his first taste of management in the close season.

Bower is looking towards his first pre-season as a boss after taking over the reins six games into last term.

Bower has already retained 13 of last season’s squad and he is hoping to tie down more of the players who took the club to a fifth-placed finish in the Conference North and to the play-off final at Altrincham.

Club captain Andy Holdsworth, former Norwich City man Oli Johnson, assistant player-manager Danny Boshell and Danny Ellis are all on the retained list.

The Lions have also exercised the option to keep Wayne Brooksby, and negotiations with him and others are ongoing.

Guiseley say the talks with them and other potential signings are at an advanced stage and more news is expected over the next few days.