IT has been very frustrating trying to bring in new players before tomorrow's deadline.

In the last month, there have been four occassions where players have been about to sign and something has happened to stop the deal going through.

One player was kept at his club to cover for an injury to one of his team-mates, while another player we were close to signing injured himself just before he was about to sign for us.

We might still target these players in the future, though, so I won't reveal who they are because that could alert other clubs. But, all in all, it has been very frustrating.

I am still on the lookout, but it is doubtful that I'll be able to get anyone in before the deadline.

However, the players who played against Barrow on Friday showed that when everyone is working hard and playing to their ability, there is not too much wrong with our squad.

Therefore, the challenge to them is to play like that between now and the end of the season.

I have always felt the players I have got here are good enough to get into the play-offs.

That is now a long-shot - maybe we've given ourselves too much to do - but there is no reason why we cannot win all of our last six games if we play like we did against Barrow.

The team has played really well in spells, but they have not done it often enough - the problem is finding the consistency.

Chris Cornes has joined Telford on loan until the end of the season with the view to signing a permanent deal.

Dennis Pearce has been available for a while now and he has also left the club so he can try to get something sorted for next season.

It was a similar situation last season when Graham Hyde, Leon Kelly and Les Hines moved on and hopefully the lads who have just left can get something fixed up for next season.

There were a number of factors why the signing of Chris didn't quite work out.

Playing at this level takes a certain sort of player and it can take a while to get used to it. He had a few problems getting rid of a bit of weight and he had a job as well. He found it difficult to combine working and playing.

However, he goes to Telford with our best wishes and I hope things work out for him there. I'm sure he'll end up playing at Football League or Conference level because he certainly has the ability. He can really put himself in the shop window at Telford.