New boss Andy Sinton has pledged to keep a close eye on the purse-strings as he bids to build a squad of “about 20 players”.

The new Bucks chief met the supporters for the first time last night at a well-attended fans’ forum.

Around 200 people crammed into the Learning Centre at the New Bucks Head to hear the thoughts of Sinton and his assistant Darren Read.

And former England international Sinton soon made it clear that the hard work was already well under way.

“We’ll start back training at the end of the month and, by then, we’ll have a squad to work with,” he declared.

“I expect to have 90 per cent of the squad in place by the time of the first pre-season game on July 6 against TNS.

“I’d like to be working with a squad of about 20 players because there will always be occasions when someone’s got a niggle or suspensions are kicking in.

“There will have to be a bit of wheeling and dealing to work within the budget, but I know it’s my job to make the big decisions.

“You can’t buy a Rolls Royce if you’ve got Mondeo money and I will never overspend – everything I do will be run past the people that matter at this football club.”

It was a first chance for the fans to hear from Read, who was confirmed as Sinton’s No 2 at the end of last week.

Expectations

Read has arrived from Stafford Rangers and made it clear that he has his own thoughts on why the Bucks fell so short of expectations last season.

“Telford has always had a fear factor but you lost that a little bit last year,” he declared.

“With the base of the squad you have here, you should be achieving a lot more.

“When we (Stafford) played you, you were very direct and Telford is better than that.”

By CHRIS HUDSON