Lowestoft Town director of football admits that competition for places in the Blues' squad is 'cut-throat' at the moment and he wouldn't want it any other way.

Former Norwich City midfielder Robert Eagle looks set to join the Trawlerboys having impressed on trial against Kirkley & Pakefield on Tuesday evening and Fleming believes that competition for places will play a key role in bringing the best out of his players.

The message from the Blues' management team is clear: produce the performances or you'll make way for someone that will.

'I've tried to make this clear to the lads that if they're playing well and they are doing it then they will play. If they don't there's always someone waiting on the touchline waiting to take their chance,' he said. 'That's how it is at the moment – it's a bit cut-throat. We've probably got at least two in each position now that can really push and play. We haven't got the biggest squad but we have got a lot of quality.'

Eagle took all of two minutes to make an impression against Kirkley and Fleming will hold talks over the next few days to see if a deal can be thrashed out for the 24-year-old, who recently left Grimsby Town.

'I will sit down and have a chat with him over the next few days to see what he's thinking and hopefully we can come around to some kind of deal where both sides are happy,' he said. 'He ticks all the boxes. We are trying to get young, local lads from around the area that want to play.'

Lowestoft are without a game this weekend due to East Thurrock's involvement in the FA Trophy and Fleming admitted he is disappointed to have to wait until a week from tomorrow for their league programme to resume.

'With the way that the fixtures have gone and the games in hand it would have been nice to get a game in and put a bit of pressure on but it is what it is,' added the former Norwich defender, who will take charge of his side against Canvey Island in the League Cup on Tuesday night at Crown Meadow.

'We will just get our heads down, we will have a good training session before, we'll have a good rest.

'It gives the lads that are injured a bit more time to get fit and hopefully by the next league game we might have a full squad to choose from.'