PAUL Cox does not want Barrow AFC to become a selling club, as high-division sides start to circle around the Bluebirds' prime talent.

A Premier League scout watched Barrow beat League One Bristol Rovers in the FA Cup second round on Sunday, believed to have been interested in rapidly-developing defensive colossus Moussa Diarra.

Owner Paul Casson has spoken of his expectation that winger Jordan Williams will attract further offers from Football League sides in the January transfer window, after AFC rebuffed at least one six-figure bid in the summer.

Other players such as Nick Anderton, Richie Bennett and Alex-Ray Harvey are seen are having big potential, while Byron Harrison's goalscoring record – with 19 to his name this season in league and cup – prompting many to question whether another Football League side will take a punt on him after previous spells with Stevenage and Chesterfield.

All this interest and speculation comes of the back of Barrow's 22-match unbeaten run across all competitions – a run which sees them in the National League play-off positions and preparing for an FA Cup third round home tie with League One Rochdale next month.

But Cox is hopeful that the Holker Street outfit will be able to keep hold of the talented players who have helped them achieve that success – and even add to it in the coming months.

“When we're on a run like we are, when we're winning football matches consistently, there is always going to be speculation about the players, the managers and the coaches,” said Cox when asked about the Premier League scout reportedly watching the 2-1 success at the Memorial Stadium.

“It's part and parcel of the game, I take it with a sense of pride if there are Premier League scouts looking at our players. It means we are obviously doing something right. I embrace that.

“We don't want to be a selling club. We want to keep hold of our best players, because I think we are building something here.

“With our recruitment, moulding players into better players, we seem to be doing a lot of things right. We want to keep hold of our best players, keep this group together and even add to it over Christmas, because we are still way behind the Lincolns, Forest Greens, Tranmeres, in terms of quality in depth.

“We don't want to be selling our best players. We want to be adding to our squad, not selling them.”

Asked about potential interest in Williams, Cox, who oversaw the winger signing a new two-year deal in the summer, said: “It doesn't concern me whether or not there will be interest in January.

“It's part and parcel of football. He's a very, very good player and a lovely kid. He deserves the adulation he is getting.”