PAUL Cox believes Elliot Newby has a lot to give Barrow AFC next season after offering the young winger a new deal.

Newby was the only out-of-contract AFC man to be presented with the chance to stay at Holker Street, having impressed while out on loan at National League North side Altrincham for the latter stages of last season.

Cox believes the youngster can make a breakthrough into the first-team squad on a regular basis next season, and said: “I do feel that Elliot Newby has matured as a player. I think his time in Conference North has done him the world of good, enough for us to offer him fresh terms on a new contract.

“I'm looking for Elliot to really hit the ground running when he comes back, in order to establish himself not just in the 16, but to push for a place in the 11.”

As well a offering Newby a deal, the club have activated an option to extend Moussa Diarra's stay for another season, while both Alex-Ray Harvey and Paul Turnbull triggered their contract extensions when they made their 25th appearances of the campaign.

Both Andy Parry and Joel Dixon, who missed the majority of the season after knee injuries which required surgery, have been invited back in pre-season with the goal of earning new contracts.

Cox is already working hard to bring in new blood to make the squad bigger and better next season, and said: “At the minute, I'm highlighting a number of players that I feel are going to add that quality in depth.

“When you look at what it takes to get into that top six, we missed out for a reason. Regarding the quality in depth and the quality overall of players, Lincoln were better, Tranmere were better, Aldershot were better, Dagenham were better and Forest Green were better. Dar I say, Dover as well.

“It really highlighted it on the last game of the season where our deficiencies were.

“As a club, we have to improve all the way through the 11, with the quality of footballer we are looking at, we need some more quality in depth. It's as simple as that.”

He added: “There has already been progress. You can't wait around – sometimes you have to be patient, but I would like to get a lot of work done early this year.

“We've got a nice little nucleus that's left, and I want to make sure that the players we bring in early strengthen us as a whole and put us in a position to maybe relax a little bit and then play the market a little bit better.”

FULL RUNDOWN

Players already on contract: Nick Anderton, Richie Bennett, Dan Cockerline, Ross Hannah, Byron Harrison, Liam Hughes, Harry Panayiotou, Jordan Williams.

Players whose contract extensions have been triggered: Moussa Diarra, Alex-Ray Harvey, Paul Turnbull.

Players not offered new contracts: Shaun Beeley, Andy Coughlin, Inih Effiong, Danny Livesey, Lindon Meikle.

Players offered new contracts: Elliot Newby.

Loan players returning to their parent clubs: Luke Burke (Wigan), Jon Flatt (Wolves), Dan Rowe (Wycombe), Matty Platt (Blackburn), Jack Thomas (Mansfield), Connor Thomson (Blackburn) Shaun Tuton (Barnsley), Akil Wright (Fleetwood).

Players invited to come back to earn a new contract: Joel Dixon, Andy Parry.