Wealdstone boss Gordon Bartlett hopes to trade on the club’s good reputation in the football community as he seeks to bolster his squad but admits the Stones will, as ever, be restricted financially.

As a part-time side in the Conference South, the Stones have to pit themselves against well-moneyed clubs such as Ebbsfleet United, Maidstone United and Whitehawk, to name but three.

However, it is nothing new to Bartlett, who will lead the Stones into a 21st season next term.

Asked how preparations for next season were shaping up, the 59-year-old replied: “We have sat down as a management team and decided what we would like to improve.

“I have already had four or five calls from players who I would not have dreamt of picking the phone up to they want to come to us because they have heard good things about us.

“However, it is incredibly unlikely they will come to us. They are all playing at a similar level and they would have settle for a little less in wages should they come here,” explained Bartlett.

“It says a lot about us as a club that they have heard good things and picked up the phone to enquire.”

Bartlett continued: “I have even gone after two Ryman League players who are on more than our players.

“The club have been very, very good but we are not blessed with a sugar daddy. We have lost our shirt sponsors too this summer but we have got a new commercial team and we hope they will be able to generate a little bit to help the club because we want to keep progressing.”

Despite the budgetary constraints placed upon him, Bartlett is rightfully proud of a record which has seen him improve the club’s league standing year-on-year in all but a handful of seasons with the Middlesex outfit.

And unlike many clubs, the Stones are run within their means, so there is no begrudging the financial parameters set out for him on Bartlett’s behalf.

“The club have been very prudent over the years to achieve what we have achieved.

“We have not done too badly on it (the budget) so far,” he added.

The Stones have already announced pre-season friendlies against Hanwell Town (July 4), at home to Wycombe Wanderers (July 21), at Dagenham & Redbridge (July 25), at home to AFC Rushden & Diamonds (July 29) and away to Staines Town (August 1).

And Bartlett was quick to underline the importance of putting together a testing pre-season schedule both for on and off-pitch reasons.

He explained: “Although we have got agreements with one or two we can’t announce anything until we have got dates.

“One good pre-season friendly can make a difference to the budget, so we have to get it right.”