PAUL Casson believes he armed Barrow AFC boss Darren Edmondson with a competitive and sensible summer budget.

He feels that money should boost the Bluebirds’ chances of competing in the top half of the National League table this season.

AFC owner Casson hopes Barrow can be in the promotion conversation and can escape non-league’s top division over the next two seasons.

Casson did not reveal the size of AFC’s summer players’ budget – which is almost spent – and does not pretend it is one of the largest in the division.

But if a league table of National League budgets was to be compiled – with the club boasting the biggest cash pot being at the top of it – AFC could rank in the top half. More funds are sure to be released during the campaign, if and when AFC’s squad needs to be strengthened for whatever reason.

Barrow will begin their league campaign by hosting Dover Athletic on Saturday, and Casson said: “I think it’s a middle-of-the-road kind of budget, it’s certainly not one that matches Tranmere’s, Forest Green’s or one of those. But it’s definitely middle of the road.

“We wanted the right type of player. We weren’t just going to throw silly money around because when you start doing that word gets around.

“And then you get a lot of phone calls you don’t need or want from people who want all kinds of things that you’re not going to give them.

“So, basically, it was a serious-minded budget that we think will get the job done in the time-frame that we have and it’s sensible.

“We’re trying to build sustainability and a long-range future, we’re not going for the instant gratification.”

That does not mean Casson is wavering from his desire for AFC to be competing in the right half of the table. So what does he base this desire on?

He said: “Based on the budget that is available, Darren’s ability and the other coaches’ ability and the players that we’ve brought in – I would be very disappointed if we were in the bottom half.

“It could happen of course, I mean you never know in football, but that’s not we’re expecting.

“I don’t think anybody in this football club on the playing or management sides are expecting this club to be in the bottom half of the Conference this year.”

So is the budget competitive with regards to AFC’s aim of being in the promotion mix?

The US-based Barrovian added: “If all things fall for you.

“I think we’ll be in the (play-off) conversation. I think we’ve got a lot to learn, right?

“For Darren, it’s the first time he’s managed at this level, so he has to go through a certain amount of education. I think he’s a fast learner so he’ll learn quickly. Many of the players are new to each other so it will take time. Hopefully, it won’t take too long. I don’t think we’ll have the forgiveness in this league that we had in the league below, for example.

“Last season we lost the first game but after that we started pretty quickly. I think this league will be tough from day one, every game will be tough and so we’ll pretty much have to be on it for every game.

“How quickly the team will gel to the point where we really are expecting to win every game, only time will tell.”