FA Vase semi-finalists King's Lynn Town have launched a higher league double transfer raid for Lowestoft's ex-Linnet Sam Gaughran and Stamford's highly-rated defender Paul Malone.

Town joint boss Kevin Boon confirmed yesterday The Walks outfit had lodged formal cash bids for the duo along with a seven day approach to Ridgeons Division One club Thetford Town for frontman Matt Blake.

Lynn's management are desperate to bolster their squad for the final UCL league and cup push with Town now two games from Wembley in the FA Vase and through to the Norfolk Senior Cup final at Carrow Road.

'Both Sam and Paul are on contracts so we have gone through the right channels but we feel as a club it's important to let our fans know we are tying to strengthen,' said Boon. 'If we had the bids accepted then we could even bring one or both in prior to the weekend. Buster (Chapman) has said all along if the club is growing and the income is there if we want to improve the playing squad.'

Lowestoft's Gaughran, who has recently forced his way into the Ryman Premier Division promotion hopefuls' starting line-up, came through the ranks at Lynn before joining Peterborough.

'Sam we know all about,' said Boon. 'He is local to this area so he knows what is happening with our club and what the plans are for the future. He has been in and out at Lowestoft this season so we have approached their chairman and I have spoken to Micky Chapman. He said he would speak to the boy at training. We were keen to bring in Sam in the summer before he went to Lowestoft but we were building a new club and you can't blame the lad for wanting to play as high as he can. Sam is a versatile boy and he is not FA Vase cup tied either which is another bonus.'

Malone and Blake are two more bright young prospects Lynn have identified to take the ambitious club forward.

'Paul is only 20 but he was hugely impressive when we played them in pre-season,' said Boon, who also confirmed teenage defender Ryan Fryatt had been offered a two year contract. 'He is someone myself and Setch (Gary Setchell) have kept tabs on and he is only Peterborough-based so that fits in with what we are striving to do and build a local squad. Matt, again, is someone who we think could do a job in the longer term. He is still very raw but there is something about him and he was a handful when we played them in the Senior Cup.'

Meanwhile, Town have been given an initial ticket allocation of 600 for their FA Vase semi-final, first leg at Coalville Town on March 26. Tickets will be available to away fans from next week direct from King's Lynn Town outlets after Ravens' officials imposed an 1,800 capacity limit for the all-ticket game at their Owen Street Sports Ground.

'The FA guidelines in this matter indicate we are only obligated to give the away club a 15% share of the ground capacity but we know that is nowhere near enough to cater for the demand from King's Lynn,' said a Ravens' spokesman. 'With that in mind we have agreed a figure of 600. Away fans will be able to purchase tickets from King's Lynn. We are in the process of sending tickets to King's Lynn Town. There is a possibility the allocation can be increased but that depends on the demand from home fans. That is something we will monitor and we will take a view on nearer the time of the game itself.'

FA Vase semi-final, first leg admission prices: �7 for adults, �5 for pensioners and �5 for children aged five to 15 with free entry for children under five.

• Town's second leg return at The Walks on Apri l2 is also all ticket with segregation in place again as for the fifth round win over St Neots. Season ticket holders and VIPs will be offered the first chance to purchase two tickets per person. Any left unsold will go on general sale prior to the UCL Premier Division home game against S & L Corby on Tuesday, March 22.

Adult and concession prices will remain the same as a normal league fixture, but children aged five to 15 will be charged �3, with children aged four and under admitted free.