Cox wants to build a championship-winning team at Barrow AFC for next season

The Bluebirds' National League play-off bid came to an end on Saturday, as Aldershot's win over North Ferriby meant they cannot finish inside the top-five.

Tough decisions now lie ahead for AFC boss Cox when it comes to deciding which players in his current squad he wants to keep and which he will release in order to go a step further next time round.

Last summer saw the shock departures of the likes of Simon Grand and Jason Walker, but Cox added to his ranks by bringing in new stars Moussa Diarra, Byron Harrison and Richie Bennett – among others.

This time around, the Bluebirds will be seeking players who want to win the National League, while releasing those who the manager feels have gone as far as they can with the side.

Cox believes many of his squad will benefit from this season and move on up a level next year, and he wants to add to them with more quality recruits.

“I’m looking for people who are hungry to win a championship,” he said. “That might, once again, be setting sights too high, but you have to do that.

“I want to win another championship. I'm looking at the players now, even in these last two games to really see who is going to take this club forward.

“There are going to be some tough decisions in the summer, because some of these boys have run through a brick wall for this football club. But we need to progress, we need to go forward, and there needs to be that desire and hunger to become a Football League club.

“I honestly believe that this league will be tougher than it has ever been next year. The London clubs who are coming up have got finance, the northern clubs who are coming up have got finance as well. Not only that, there has been a learning curve for a lot of clubs who have been at this level for the first time.

“I can only look after our own camp. It has been really, really positive talking to Paul (Casson, the AFC owner). I'm going to work even harder than I have ever worked – I have got a real hunger to get everything done yesterday. But we have to be patient, we have to make sure that we get the right kind of framework in place.

“What has cost us this year is we have brought in some fantastic players, but they are learning their trade at this level. They will be better for it if we add some quality, some consistency, a bit more competition. Then we will be heading in the right direction.”

Cox highlighted the class of Byron Harrison – whom he picked out as the club's best player following his return from injury on Easter Monday, and who scored his 22nd goal of the season in Saturday's 2-0 win at Braintree Town – as what he wants to emulate when it comes to his recruitment drive.

The former Chesterfield and Stevenage striker arrived towards the end of pre-season as a marquee signing with huge Football League experience, and has proved his worth as the club's joint-top scorer – alongside Bennett – despite his three-month lay-off.

Cox added: “Next season, we want more players like Byron – we need that quality of footballer that comes here and doesn't just want to play the game, but also has a desire to make Barrow successful.

“I know what's needed. I have been on the job 24 hours a day at the minute. Hopefully we can push on.

“I've talked to millions of players, I've spoken to loads of agents.”

As for his decision on which players to retain, he added: “I'm going to really think about the players I've got right up until the end of the season. Why? Because I don't want to make a silly decision based on fatigue.

“We've got some players now, you look at Moussa and he has played nearly every game of the season. Livesey has played a lot of games, Al-Ray has played a lot of games – there are a number of players who have played a lot of games and are still performing at a high level after all those games.

“As a whole, with the squad, I want to make a really professional decision and make sure that I'm not making a snap decision that is based on fabrication rather than fact.”