Boss Andy Sinton has vowed to keep counting the pennies as he builds his squad for AFC Telford United’s Conference Premier bow, insisting: “There won’t be any champagne signings.”

Sinton has already snapped up defender Robbie Williams from Altrincham and winger James Reid from Hinckley – and two or three more arrivals are expected next week.

But he has not been able to compete with the funds at the disposal of some of Telford’s full-time rivals –with Fleetwood especially splashing the cash.

Fleetwood boss Micky Mellon has sealed a season-long loan deal for striker Richard Brodie – a player believed to have cost Crawley £275,000 last season – as well as poaching prolific Wrexham hitman Andy Mangan.

Telford are trading in the bargain basement by comparison, and Sinton admits: “I won’t be diving in and there won’t be any champagne signings because we’ve not got the money.

“We’ve got to do our shopping carefully,” he added.

“I’ve had many meetings over the last few weeks and it’s been very time-consuming but we’re getting close to the point where we can commit to four or five of them.”

One player definitely on the Shropshire club’s radar is Mansfield centre-back Mark Preece, who had a successful loan spell at the New Bucks Head last season.

Sinton has already signed Williams as a replacement for Liam Murray, who is emigrating to Australia, but is keen to bring in at least one more defender to increase his options.

“We have spoken to Mark,” assistant manager Darren Read confirmed.

“He’s been talking to the gaffer regularly and he’s definitely somebody we’re interested in but it’s a case of making the finances stack up.

By CHRIS HUDSON