Bluebirds close to first signing

Defender Spender made 110 appearances for Wrexham

Barrow joint-boss Dave Bayliss has revealed he hopes to make his first summer signing "within the next couple of days".

Bayliss has made no secret of his attempt to sign former Wrexham defender Simon Spender, who had a 12-game loan-spell at Holker Street this season.

"We've got an answer, so we're just trying to finalise everything," he told BBC Radio Cumbria.

"We've got to wait on another one on Friday so it's moving quickly."

Spender, who was released by the Welsh club last month, enjoyed a successful loan spell with the Bluebirds towards the end of last season.

The former Wales Under-21 right-back made 110 appearances for Wrexham, scoring five times.

"He's a player we've spoken too, and it's on-going," Bayliss added. "I know him anyway so I keep in touch with him.

"It's looking quite good so we just have to keep on going and see what happens at the end of the week."

The Bluebirds' boss is also keen to sign left-back Gareth Jelleyman, who also impressed during his loan stay with the club.

However Bayliss admitted travelling distance may hinder his chances of landing the former Peterborough United and Mansfield Town player.

Last week Barrow released seven first-team players as the first part of their squad re-shaping ahead of their second season in the Blue Square Premier.

Midfielder Matt Henney and defender Lee Woodyatt have been allowed to leave after they admitted to difficulties in balancing their full-time job commitments with a proposed new training schedule next season.

Henney scored the Bluebirds' winning goal in last year's 1-0 Blue Square North play-off final win over Stalybridge Celtic.

The Sellafield nuclear plant worker now looks set to re-join his former club Workington Reds,Woodyatt's season was ruined by an horrific pre-season injury during a friendly at Kendal Town.

The 25-year-old suffered a break of the tibia and fibia as well as a dislocated ankle which kept him out of action until the final few weeks of the season.

Henney joined the Bluebirds from Cumbrian rivals Workington Reds

Strikers Paul Tait and Lee Hunt have also been released along with defender Natt Kerr and midfielders Paul Brown and Brendan McGill.

The Bluebirds have offered new deals to Paul Jones, Carlos Logan, Andy Bond, Jason Walker, Nick Rogan and Mike Pearson.

Midfielder Mark Boyd this week agreed to a new two-year deal with the club but goalkeeper Tim Deasy has rejected the new terms offered to him.

"We're not going to go on our hands and knees and beg these players to play for us," Bayliss said. "If they don't want to play then that's fine, they can go and find deals elsewhere."

"We've spoken to Andy Bond and that's looking good, Paul Jones as well. But if these players don't want to stay we won't be held to ransom by them."

The club are also hoping to announce details of their new training schedule within the next few days, although Barrow are unlikely to be changing their status from part-time to full-time.

"We've got more meetings and it will become a lot more clear," Bayliss added. "It's 99% certain what we are going to do but we just have to finalise things."