Phil Brown says “ambition” will be the key word in talks over his future at Barrow AFC.

The Bluebirds boss, who has led the club to League Two safety, says club chiefs have made it clear they want him to stay.

The experienced manager, whose side head to his former club Swindon Town this weekend, says there is clear potential at the Holker Street club.

But he said the most important factor will be evidence of the ambition to take the club much further.

“They’ve been very open and honest, certainly where the chairman’s concerned and the various owners we have at Barrow,” Brown said.

“Discussions will be had come the end of the season if not before.

“I’m open to any kind of conversation. I took the job until May 30, which coincidentally is my birthday, and after my 63rd birthday hopefully I’ll be in employment.

“Where Barrow’s concerned, they’ve made their intentions clear that they want to keep myself and [assistant] Neil McDonald, but negotiations are never easy, it doesn’t matter what level you’re at.

“There’s a lot of talking to be done but it will all be to do with ambition.

“I had a meeting with the players on Tuesday before the game, and it was all about ambition and life skills, where they want to be in life.

“I don’t want players at the club, if I’m here next year, that haven’t got any ambition.

“That includes where the club’s concerned, going in the right direction.”

Brown, who was appointed on a short-term basis as Mark Cooper's successor in March, says Barrow is clearly a well-run club, but also needs certain things to be established in order to grow.

“Having a home is a big thing, a big part to me,” he said.

“Having a place where you can tell people, ‘This is our training ground, where we do our work, where we’re building for the future’.

“The word ‘academy’ has been used a couple of times in conversations. That takes a lot of planning and commitment. And also a lot of finances as well.

“There’s lots to talk about, but the club is very well run and well managed and supported. All those things in place are the kind of thing that attracts managers and coaches, and certainly attracts players.”

Brown also said his past experiences underline the need for driving ambition at a club.

“I was very fortunate to be at the start of a journey at Bolton Wanderers where we started in the Second Division and we ended up in Europe,” he added.

“Now, that sounds a long way away, when you’re talking about fighting for survival in League Two.

“But you have to have that ambition, that drive and determination, the finances in place, a training ground…it takes time, don’t get me wrong, but you have to have the idea in your head that you want to take this somewhere.

“That will come out in conversations in due course.”