THE hard work starts now that was the verdict of Stephen Clemence after his unveiling as the new Barrow AFC boss.

The Bluebirds released 10 players following the end of the 2023/24 season, and Clemence is well aware that means that some rebuilding is required.

And he revealed that he hasn’t been resting on his laurels.

He told The Mail: “There’s a lot of hard work to be done, but we will do that together as a staff with Iain (Wood sporting director) and the owners, and we will get the right players through the door.

“There’s already been with players over the last couple of days, so we are already trying one or two things and we will see what develops.”

While Clemence is obviously looking to get the best players available and ones which will best suit his style of play, they aren’t the only criteria he is looking at when it comes to bringing in new faces.

He added: “It is so important that you get the right character first of all.

“You want the right professionals in the building that are going to do their best for Barrow.

“But then obviously there will be a certain type of player that I want from a technical point of view, from a physical point of view, and from a tactical point of view.

“So obviously that’s something we have got to discuss but we are on the same sort of wavelength already myself and Iain.

“So yeah, the hard work starts now in making sure we get the right players through the door.

“But there’s a lot of competition out there so it’s all right saying you want this player, and you want that player, but there’s a lot of competition for their signatures.

 “You have to go and present to players these days about how you want to play and how you see them fitting into the team.

“There is so much that goes into signing a player, but it is an exciting time.

“Obviously when so many players have left the building there’s a chance to create the type of team that I want to see.”

Clemence added that he expected to speak to the club’s current backroom staff over the next few days.

He said: “I have yet to speak to the staff yet but obviously that’s something I’m looking to do soon.

“I have already seen from looking behind the scenes that there are a lot of good people working at the club.

“I have spoke to Iain and he also assures me that there are a lot of good people here.

“Not everything needs fixing. There club has been doing well for a couple of years, so it’s a case of can I come in and can add to what has already been done well, and can we progress it further.”