AFC Fylde manager Dave Challinor admits the transfer window will once again be a waiting game for his league champions.

The Coasters’ wage bill will be dwarfed by many clubs in the National League next season and Challinor insists he may have to be patient in his pursuit of new faces.

Challinor said: “It’s tough at the moment. There has been lots of contact with clubs and players but we have a plan and we aren’t going to break away from our wage structure.

“We aren’t a club that has been full time for years and pays 52 weeks a year. Our budget allows us to pay 45 weeks from the start of pre-season. Perhaps that isn’t as attractive to some players and we are competing with clubs that are paying a lot of money so we have to be realistic.

“We will have to be patient until the right people come along. That said, I’m confident that will happen.

“We have eight contracted players at the moment and an option on James Hardy that we have taken up.

Challinor also admitted he was in no rush to sell his best players: “There has been no contact whatsoever for any of our players yet. If there was to be any interest then ideally we would want it to come early. We want to build a squad and we don’t want that being disrupted towards the start of the season.

“We were planning on carrying an 18 man with a couple of youngsters, well Tranmere have 34 pros on their books so it that’s what we are up against.

“We want to get the squad sorted as early as possible. If someone comes in and tries to take one of our players at the end of the transfer window then it’s unlikely that we will entertain that.

“We are in a good position to keep hold of players and we protect ourselves with the length of contracts that hand out. Players are happy to sign longer contracts for their own security, but that also means that we retain their services for that amount of time, so it has to work both ways.

“We want to progress as a club but we want players to progress with us. If they do well and there is interest from other clubs then we are doing something right. As long it is the right deal and the right move for all parties then we will consider it.

“We have no intention in selling our best players. We want to kick on next season and get new players in to accompany what we already have. We already have a few lads that have played at this level and higher and we want to bring in even more established players.

“We need to strengthen right across the board, certainly at the back, but we are still looking at all areas if players become available.”