Gary Setchell admits his bid to fill the troubled striker's role at King's Lynn Town is proving difficult.

The Linnets boss lost big man Russell Dunkley at the end of last season and then saw new signing Ryan Robbins perform a controversial U-turn and head elsewhere after a disagreement with some sections of the support on social media.

But finding a replacement isn't easy, many possible targets have already committed themselves to other clubs – and others either are too expensive or not suitable.

'I know we have got to try and find a replacement for Dunkley or Robbins, however you like to put it, but it is very, very difficult,' he said.

'A lot of players have done their deals.

'I am going to have to wait for a big striker who can score 30 goals have a fall-out with a manager in pre-season somewhere and hope the phone rings.'

Setchell's humorous take on the situation will be tempered by his budget – and his own optimism.

'I have been ringing around this week trying to get a striker in, but that will fall into place, there is no question of that,' he said.

'We have not got a huge amount of money to tempt a striker away from a Step Two or Step Three club, it is as simple as that.

'I have got to try and work it where I can get someone in with potential or an older head who is working his way down through the leagues. I have to be very, very careful in what I do. But you have to be careful – people who are dropping out of the league normally want big money.

'I have to try and find for example a Dan Quigley – a 22, 23-year-old with bags and bags of potential. He was playing Step Five two years ago and now he's playing Step Three.

'I need to find someone like that or someone who wants to come to King's Lynn for the right price and play at a decent place with a decent set of lads and a decent ground.'