Barrow AFC manager Ian Evatt is not concerned about the prospect of teams from higher divisions becoming interested in his players as a result of their superb performances in the National League.

The Bluebirds pulled three points clear at the top of the division after thrashing Maidenhead United 4-0 last Saturday, which was their 12th win in 14 league games.

Given their form, it wouldn’t be of any surprise if teams from the Football League were scouting their players, such as top scorer Scott Quigley or midfielder John Rooney, in preparation for when their transfer window reopens next month.

But with most of the players in their squad - barring loanees Oliver Greaves, Matt Platt and Tom White - tied down to contracts, AFC would gain financially should any club from League Two or above express firm interest during January.

Evatt said: “Scouts should be coming to watch us because we’ve got some very good young players, some big assets on the football pitch, but they’re our players and it’s our decision whether they come or go.

“In the past, that hasn’t always been the case, but mark my words now, if you want to take one of our players, you’re going to have to pay big money for them.

“Come and watch them, by all means, and it will make the club stronger moving forwards, but like I said they’re our players, they’re contracted to us and it’s our decision - mine, the chairman and the rest of the board’s decision - whether we let them go or not.

“People are going to have to pay big, big money to get them out, it’s that simple, but they’re top players. The way they’re working is fantastic and they’re all proud to be part of what they’re achieving at the moment.”

While Barrow were always confident their form would pick up after they frustratingly lost six of their first nine games of the season, the turnaround has been remarkable, with them seizing control at the top while the teams below have been tripping over themselves.

Evatt said: “Early in the season, people were becoming a bit twitchy, but I think anybody that really knows me well enough knew that I knew we would improve and I knew we weren’t really getting what we deserved and things would change.

“Did I foresee that it would change as quickly and as well as they have? Probably not, but these boys are capable of special things and there’s loads to come.

“There’s still a lot of things that I’m not happy with and we can improve, so we’ll keep working hard and looking into all those things that will give us that extra one per cent to get us over the line this season.”