No Limits For Barrow As They Search For New Talent

Manager Paul Cox has been working closely with his chief scout Paul Ogden and they refuse to limit themselves to English, Scottish, Welsh or Irish players.

The Bluebirds are facing somewhat of a summer rebuild with a number of players moving on. Cox has signed well though, with Wimbledon’s David Fitzpatrick and Sutton United’s Bedsente Gomis on board.

They are both London-based players and it may not be the last long-distance signing the Cumbrian club makes.

“What I've done over a number of months, working with Paul, is to set up a number of contacts,” Cox told the North West Evening Mail.

“Now we can draw from the whole of England, there are not many people we don't have contacts with.

“We don't want to just stand still. We've looked at the European market – the French, the Dutch, Belgium – all these places where, apart from the highest leagues, there are a number of lads with unbelievable ability who are not able to showcase their talent.

“We've tapped into a number of people in these places and tried to set up links so we can try to take some of the better players who – either for an age reason or just for the door being shut – are available.”

Manager Cox added: “It's just a win-win situation for the football club. It's not going to cost us anything, and there is a conveyor-belt of great European talent that is just stagnating on the continent.

“If you look below Ligue 1 in France, and you look at some of the players who cannot break into that level, and the size of the countries, there is a queue of players with ability who cannot break in and play full-time football.”