Stimpson has brought midfielder Paul Haddow back to Giant Axe and signed winger Lenny Reid – both from Fleetwood – and both made their debuts this week.

But the City boss, who takes his side to Warrington on Saturday, is not stopping there with a centre-half still his main priority.

He said: "We are still talking to a couple more players but bringing in a centre-half is proving difficult as they are at a premium this season for some reason."

City beat Trafford last Saturday but lost 1-0 at home to Radcliffe on Tuesday night when – with Scott Greenwood and Paul Rigby not making the 16 – Stimpson had some tough decisions to make.

He said: "To be honest, it was hard to pick the side. I hope the lads who do get the shirt respect the quality of the lads who are in the stand."

It proved a frustrating night for City with Radcliffe scoring in the first half and then defending their lead stoutly, City coming close with a Ryan Elderton header that hit the post.

Stimpson said: "On another day, we would have scored the one that hit the post and from there we could have gone on to win the game.

"Mark Thornley has not been busy other than the odd break; the commitment was there but we were not totally at the races.

"A lot of our football is off the cuff play. We try this 'miracle football' so if we do score it's a brilliant goal but there is so little margin for error there.

"I still want us to have this off the cuff option in the locker but tonight it was almost the given.

"It is early days and we are still confident we will evolve over the season but we have to get back to basics in how we set up."