Barrow AFC will be approaching next season in the National League not fearing any of the teams they will be facing, according to striker Dior Angus.

Angus was given a taster of the Football League with former club Port Vale and is keen to return there with the Bluebirds, who he joined permanently last week following a previous loan spell at Holker Street in the second half of last campaign.

AFC manager Ian Evatt is hoping for a more concerted push for the play-offs when the action all kicks off again in August and build on 2018/19’s midtable finish, which was upgraded to tenth after Gateshead’s points deduction last Friday.

With Notts County and Yeovil Town coming down and the likes of Stockport and Torquay coming up to add to the existing competition, the National League is sure to be as competitive as ever.

Angus said: “I really don’t see why we can’t break into the play-offs. I’ve been asked after the games I played in what the standard is like in this league and I’ve said that there’s no-one to fear.

“Leyton Orient were probably the best team I faced and even they didn’t blow us away, we gave them a good game.

“I don’t think there’s anything to fear – there are going to be teams with bigger budgets, but we play some good football and not many teams in the league do that.

“That sets us apart and gives us a real good chance of making an impact.”

An area for improvement for Barrow next season, is their home form, as they allowed points to slip away on their own patch all too frequently.

That was in contrast to their away form, as they were only defeated twice on their travels following their loss at Ebbsfleet on the first weekend of November, with Angus believing a repeat of that at Holker Street would have them riding high in the table.

He said: “I do see us being able to challenge, especially at home because our home form wasn’t great last year and I think we can improve on that.

“Teams won’t like coming up to Barrow because it’s a long way, especially in the middle of winter, and when we’re playing good football, teams won’t know how to set up against us.

“I think if you repeat our away form at home then you’re finishing in the top three, without a doubt. I think that’s why the gaffer got frustrated last year because he knows we can do it.”