Braintree Town manager Danny Cowley says he is looking at possible loan options ahead of a busy spell for his team.

The Iron may have had a ten-day break ahead of Saturday’s Vanarama National League trip to Southport, but that game will herald a run of 11 games in 36 days and Cowley is mindful of the demands that will place on his squad.

So he is looking to make use of the loan window that has now reopened to possibly bring a new face in, but admits that finances may restrict what he can do and he will only bring a player in if he feels it is the correct move.

Cowley said: “It is finances permitting and also making sure that it is the right player for us.

“We will only bring in players if they enhance the group and it’s difficult when finances are tight.

“We are being patient and if the right one comes along and it is in budget then we’ll go ahead.

“We would like to do something because we are aware that we have a lot of games coming up in a short space of time.

“We have three long journeys on the next three Saturdays, starting at Southport this week, and have Boreham Wood, Halifax and then Kidderminster at home sandwiched in between them, so it’s going to be tough and if we can bring the right player in then we will.”

Added to the pressures on Cowley’s squad is the loss of striker Sean Marks for the trip to Southport, Tuesday’s home game against Boreham Wood and then the visit to Barrow on February 20 due to a three-match suspension.

Marks was sent off in Braintree’s last outing – the 1-0 win against Welling – and while the Iron feel it was a harsh decision, Cowley said they had decided not to appeal against it.

Cowley added: “Sean’s suspended for three games now as we decided not to appeal the sending off.

“It was given as violent conduct so it’s a three-match ban, but we watched it back and no way in a million years was it that.

“Sean had his eyes on the ball throughout.

“As he was not able to locate where the defender was, he had his arm out to defend himself and caught the boy, but there was no malice involved.

“The defender was never going to get near the ball and if anything, their boy came on to it and his head was well below where it needed to be to make contact with the ball.

“Look at their bench and there was no reaction at all from them.

“Sometimes the FA will change a decision if it is really categoric, but the video doesn’t prove that this time so we just have to accept it.

“We feel it is unfair, but there’s not much we can do.”

It means Marks will miss the trip to Southport, where the Iron will be looking to extend the superb form they have had on the road so far this year, however, Cowley knows it won’t be an easy trip.

He said: “We’re looking forward to Southport, but we are wary because they have had an upturn in form.

“Nicky went to Tranmere to see them last weekend while I took the reserves game so we’ve had the opportunity to watch them and they have done well since (manager Noureddine) Maamria has come in.

“They have been very good at home.

“They are very well organised, their set pieces are excellent and they have scored a lot of goals from that area, so we will need to be very well prepared.”