BARROW AFC’s player shortage needs addressing as quickly as possible.

Manager Paul Cox believes it is paramount to add to the 14 fit players he has in order to make the 22-strong squad promised by owner Paul Casson for the National League season.

Byron Harrison is also contracted, but he has been ruled out for the immediate future with a recurring ankle problem, while goalkeeper Joel Dixon and defensive midfielder Andy Parry were invited back to earn deals only to have further issues with their knees keep them out of action for around three months.

With less than three weeks to go until the National League campaign starts, that leaves Cox needing a further seven players to reach the 22-mark Casson stated was the goal at a meeting with supporters last month.

The Barrow manager is keen on at least two of the trialists who have been involved with the club during pre-season – one of them thought to be goalkeeper Colin McCabe – and watched another target in action on Tuesday night while AFC were taking on Crewe.

He recognises the need for quick action to add the necessary strength and depth to the squad, and said: “We said we were going with a squad of 22, and at the minute we have 14 fit players.

“You add the numbers up in terms of what we realistically need to go with, and the figures are there. We do need adding to, we need quality adding to what we’ve got if we are to be competitive. That’s where we are at the minute.

“It’s a problem that needs solving, and it needs solving quickly. We’ve got to get on with it. The season is upon us in under three weeks now, so we really have to make sure that the squad is ready for what is going to be an intense start to the season.”

Asked about the potential for the trialists he has fielded so far to fill the void, Cox added: “There are a number of trialists who have impressed us, but I like to be patient, I like to make sure that, if we make a decision, it is based on whether the trialists add something to us.

“Patience is key in terms of the trialists – I want to know everything about them before we give them a contract.”

One position Cox is looking to fill is that of centre-back, where he is hopeful of bringing in an experienced Football League man to fill the gap left by the departure of former captain Danny Livesey.

Moussa Diarra and Burnley loanee Jimmy Dunner are the two specialists in that position on board so far, while full-backs Dan Jones and Thierry Audel can cover if needed.

Cox experienced the problems of operating with a small squad last season, and hoped to have that rectified this term, but he also knows there will be competition for potential recruits.

He said: “We’re still looking for that marquee centre-back, and we need adding to now. Numbers aren’t good, and there are things that the squad is missing now. That’s me looking after the games we have had and having the experience of what it takes to win this league. We need adding to. We’re still a bit short.

“At this present time, everybody in the game seems to be looking for the same type of player, and we need to work hard to get the right ones in.

“I know the time-frame, and it’s something we have to deal with. Over the next week, I will be looking a little more in-depth at the players I feel we need to be added to the squad.

“The priority now – as well as the conditioning work with the boys – is to add. With 14 players, we don’t even have enough to fill the bench at the minute.

“We need to make sure that we are hitting the intense start to the season – with the Saturday, Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday – with the right numbers and the right quality.”