Colin Todd is poised to finally jump into the transfer market.

With season tickets due to go on sale today, Todd believes he is close to getting the nod to start recruiting much-needed new players.

Under the unusual circumstances City are aiming to sell at least 3,000 tickets, which would generate the cash for Todd to bolster his ravaged playing resources.

Todd said: "Hopefully I will be able to start bringing people in. There are no guarantees but the signs are growing more encouraging day by day.

"There is a lot of groundwork to be done but I'd like to think we will have one or two new faces in before our next friendly on Saturday. We're obviously also looking at the ones that we have got in and if they perform well there will be decisions to be made."

City have lost nine players during the summer and Todd added: "I would hope that's it. I wouldn't be looking for anymore to go out because it just dilutes the squad even further.

"I would think it is unlikely that we will lose more players and hopefully now we can start getting some back in."

Trialists Lee Crooks, Kieran West-wood, Steven Schumacher, Michael Symes and Patrick Jones are all hoping to earn a City contract.

Goalkeeper Westwood played the full 90 minutes in the opening pre-season game at Harrogate on Friday while the other four all featured for at least a half with Symes and Schumacher both getting on the scoresheet.

Todd plans to run the rule over them again this week before making a decision. He is also targeting a senior goalkeeper and has a few names on his short-list to consider.

Skipper David Wetherall, who last week rejected the chance to join Coventry, said: "You can't blame anyone for leaving because of the situation. Players have to look after themselves and their family. But people can't keep leaving and hopefully now the perception of the place will turn from being a club where people can't get out fast enough to one that they want to come to.

"At this moment we don't know anything about the squad we are going to have. We don't know who, if anyone, Colin Todd has lined up and we're just waiting for the green light so that he can bring players in.

"But a week last Thursday, we would have settled for having any kind of team there. Everybody else is strengthening and hopefully we can do some serious catching up in the very near future."

Because of the limited time, season-ticket application forms will not be sent out. But they will be available from the Valley Parade reception and Upfront superstore and can be filled in at the ticket office.