Lowestoft Town joint boss Ady Gallagher insists the club won't break the bank as they look to strengthen the squad over the summer.

The Blues have made just one signing so far in the form of Will Viner from Thurrock but Gallagher revealed the Blues' management have been very active in the transfer market. However, the Trawlerboys have seen several targets reject their advances in preference to clubs in the same division with bigger budgets.

Gallagher is confident the club will add to their ranks this month but admitted they will have to be patient in finding the right players to ensure they don't upset the chemistry of a squad that came so close to promotion last season.

'We've been very active but we have to be patient,' said Gallagher. 'There are players that we are interested in and we are optimistic about several of those. But they have got to be the right players for us because we know we have got a very competitive squad already.

'With some players their desire for money outweighs their desire for success and we don't want that at Lowestoft. We want players that want to progress and kick on in their careers. I think it's a bit of a reality check – I think it's a sign that we have been punching above our weight for several years now. We should be shouting from the rooftops what we have achieved in a short space of time.

'Last season we approached five or six players and some of them were earning double what we pay our players and they are not even making the play-offs. A lot of people point to Whitehawk for spending their way to success but they are not the only ones. Other teams are doing the same and not getting anywhere near where they should be.'

Gallagher described the Blues' budget for the season ahead as 'competitive' with chairman Gary Keyzor determined not to put the club in the sort of financial jeopardy they have experienced in the past.

'We have brought the club on in the right way – the chairman is stringent about the way he does things and our supporters should be proud of that,' he added. 'We are by no means the worst payers in the league, we are competitive but there are around eight to 10 teams that are paying more money than us.'

Joe Francis became the latest player to leave Crown Meadow this week after agreeing to sign for Suffolk rivals Leiston. Gallagher believes the winger, who was a peripheral member of the Lowestoft squad last season, will relish a different challenge. 'Joe didn't play as much as he wanted to last season and I think a new start at Leiston will do him good. Everyone at Lowestoft wishes him all the best,' he said.