Barrow boss wants "horrible" signings

Barrow manager Paul Cox has said that he wants to bring in players who are 'nasty and horrible' for the new National League season.

The Bluebirds could only muster a seventh-place finish in the fifth tier last term, and Cook is adamant that his players need to have more of a fighting spirit if they are to push for promotion this season.

"We are lacking something at the minute," he told The Mail. "We are lacking a little bit of leadership on the pitch, we're lacking a kind of mind-set that has a little bit of nastiness and horribleness. We're missing that.

"I have a lovely group of players at the minute who are honest and genuine, but to win titles, sometimes you need somebody who is a little bit dishonest, somebody who bites and scratches, somebody that upsets people and is not scared to.

"Usually those people end up wearing an arm-band with the captain's name on it. These are the type of players I think we are missing at the minute – the know-how, the nastiness, the experience. They're the ones I am now looking to bring into the squad."

Barrow's season begins away at Dagenham & Redbridge - playoff losers last season - on Saturday afternoon.