Bradford Park Avenue manager Carl Shutt is determined to bring in new players during the close season to strengthen the squad and he has hinted that he has set his sights high as he casts the net.

The former Leeds United and Bradford City forward is well respected in the game. And after taking over at Horsfall Stadium late last season and leading Avenue to the newly-formed Conference North via the UniBond Premier play-offs, his pulling power is further enhanced.

Avenue's standing in non-league football is also a plus point in the search for fresh blood - maybe even some of the 400-plus players released by League sides will be tempted.

With the Avenue web-site message board awash with e-mail enquiries and supporters beseeching directors and management for information about retained players and potential signings, the only confirmed news emanating from official sources is the pre-season friendly list.

Shutt is too wily to show his hand at this stage. That would only tip off opposition sides in the new division as to who was available. He has also been too busy to concentrate solely on incoming transfers.

"I spent all day in Bradford on Wednesday, checking things out and dealing with the day-to-day running of the club, and that is a typical day for any manager despite it being close-season," said Shutt.

"Everything is shaping up all right at the moment, the pitch is being worked on, I have seen the new shirts for the coming season and I have made a number of calls relating to players we want to bring in as well as talking to the present staff.

"No names yet. I'm sorry that the fans and the press are going to have to bear with us on this for now, but we have had some positive discussions. All I can confirm at the moment is that we have invited some players down to have a look at and some are coming down to have a look at us."

Shutt and his assistant Ian Ruscrow, a former scout for League sides, are keen to bring in the kind of players who can take the club forward. However, they will also be working within the strict budget of the club who pride themselves on being a rarity - a solvent football club.

"Away from the recruitment side we have a number of friendlies finalised but we are still working on our full list of pre-season games," added Shutt. "The game doesn't shut down over the summer, there is still plenty going on, but it all takes time."

Pre-season schedule: Monday July 12, Doncaster Rovers (h); Wednesday July 14 Sheffield United (h); Wednesday July 21 Huddersfield Town.