Barrow AFC manager Ian Evatt believes the swift transfer business that has been done so far this summer is a sign of the club’s progression both on and off the pitch.

The Bluebirds completed their fifth signing of the close-season with the arrival of former Carlisle and Morecambe defender Patrick Brough on Tuesday.

Signing number six isn’t too far away, either, with an as yet unnamed player from Sheffield United player set to join AFC on loan before pre-season training begins on Monday, July 1.

Evatt now feels this squad is his own, after he had to build a team almost from scratch following his appointment just over a year ago, when he inherited just six players.

Evatt said: “I think you can just tell that we’re on a crest of a wave. Everybody around the place is getting excited, the stadium is being redeveloped and we’re getting the right players in.

“I think we are changing expectations and changing mind-sets.

“I’ve spoke at length that getting promoted is abut mind-sets and having the mentality to expect to win every week - I expect to win every week and that’s the pressure we’ll be putting the players under.

“But I have the quality in my squad now to be able to go and do that.”

The ground improvements around Holker Street are still ongoing, but real progress is being made ahead of Barrow’s first pre-season friendly of the summer against Championship side Blackburn Rovers.

The smell of fresh paint is certainly prevalent around the ground right now, including Evatt’s office, which has been given a makeover of its own.

Evatt visited his new-look ‘digs’ for the first time on Monday and the 37-year-old has been left very impressed by the changes that have been made around the stadium.

“It’s nice to have an actual office, instead of someone’s front room, to be honest,” he said.

“The volunteers have done an incredible amount of work to the changing rooms, to the physio rooms, to the tunnel, to my office and upstairs.

“It’s just a complete transformation and it’s looking like a proper football club now.

“We are riding the wave at the moment and it’s just about getting the fans through the door to really come and back us, back the team and hopefully we can produce something special this season.

“I just can’t wait to get started again and I’m sure there are many people in the town that feel the same. I know that the board of directors are really excited as well.”