The day before news broke that the club was under new ownership following months of negotiations, Avenue fielded two major new signings in Kevin Sanasy and Dominic Krief but there will be no influx.

It was Wednesday when it was confirmed that Bradford-born millionaire businessman Robert Blackburn was the new chief executive of the club.

Sanasy and Krief had been long-term targets of manager Phil Sharpe and he managed to land them.

However, the transfer deadline for non-league clubs ends tomorrow so there will be no mass turnover of playing staff.

Sharpe was working today on two deals - thought to be keeper and a defender - but was still awaiting confirmation.

"That will be it, and for me the deadline couldn't come quickly enough. It has been a hectic last few weeks but it is going to be good for the club in the long run," said Sharpe, who is looking forward to the challenge.

Blackburn's opening gambit is to state his desire to steer Avenue back to the Football League in five years.

From their current UniBond Division One status, that means four promotions in five seasons, leaving little margin for error.

"That is pressure but there is pressure every step of the way in football at whatever level and regardless of your personal position," added Sharpe, who recently signed a new contract, along with his assistant Clive Freeman.

"The pressure will be on the players as much as Clive and myself and that is a only going to generate healthy competition. The new regime has already made a big difference to the playing budget.

"At long last we will be able to compete with other clubs on a financial front.

"We have tried to sign players this season and been turned down because they had better offers from elsewhere.

"That shouldn't be a factor now but the quality of player we can attract will very much depend on if we go up.

"If we get promoted through the play-offs it will make the package - not the money - we can offer more appealing.

"But the targets have to be realistic. These things take time and that is the right way to go about it. A club needs stability and the right infrastructure to make sure they can cope as they move up.

"From what I have been told, this is very much a part of the plan that the new man has and it is very exciting to be involved at Avenue at the moment.

"We have a good budget now and with time to build on the squad we have over the summer we should be in great shape for next season.

"We have good players at the moment but at every training session there are new faces. It is hard to get the players settled.

"At this time of the season, with midweek games, it is hard enough just to find time to train."