Manager Brad Quinton says it’s possible that Braintree Town’s line-up on the opening day of the National League season may be “quite different” from what it is during the early part of their pre-season campaign.

And the Iron boss admits that not being able to nail down deals with players is having a destabilising effect as he bids to build a strong group for their return to the top tier of non-league football.

Braintree have had mixed fortunes in their pre-season fixtures, with an under-par display against Colchester United tempered by a 4-0 win at Newmarket Town and an impressive show as they beat Championship side Ipswich Town 2-0 on Saturday.

However, Quinton admits the players who lined-up at Cressing Road for the game against the Blues may not necessarily be with them when the Vanarama National League season kicks off against FC Halifax Town on August 4.

He has said that the involvement of agents hasn’t helped in nailing down deals with some players and explained that it was continuing to be tough to finalise plans.

“Things are still moving around,” said the Iron boss.

“There are players who I’d still like to bring in so we’ll see how it goes.

“We all working really hard to bring in some sponsorship and trying to improve the squad and the budget where we can.

“It’s difficult at this moment in time and that’s me being totally honest, but there is a good core of the boys who are nearly over the line.

“I’m doing everything I can to try to nail these boys down and I’m confident in what we’re doing.

“But it is destabilising if I’m being brutally honest.

“I don’t know how much more I can say, but things are fluid enough that what you saw against Ipswich may be quite different from the side that plays on the opening day of the season.

“It has to be looked at and we have to stay within our means – that’s all we can do.

“What we have to focus on is getting a squad that is right for us going into the season.

“I have to look at what I’ve got and if I need to bring in some loan players then that’s what I will do, but we have some good young players who we are looking at.

“It’s keeping everyone on their toes.”

Quinton added that the club was working hard to finalise sponsorship deals that may expand the playing budget he had available.

He said: “We have to be honest and stay within our means.

“We are looking around at how we can get it done and we are all looking around for sponsors to improve the budget.

“There are a lot of agents involved telling me players should be on this and that, but you can’t do that with us here at Braintree.

“We just have to keep working hard and the more financial publicity about what we’re doing, the further it will go.

“We’re all trying our best throughout the club and everyone is doing what they can.”