Blackpool boss wants to strengthen his squad

However, the Pool boss has admitted he is happy with what he has managed to assemble so far.

Bowyer has brought in 12 new players this summer as he once again looks to put together a side capable of competing in League One.

He has previously stated the Pool squad is lacking options in the forward areas, and that will be something he will look to address in the following days, with the window shutting at 5pm on Thursday.

“I’m happy with what we’ve got but we’re always trying to bring in players,” he said.

“There are certainly one or two areas where we are a little bit light numbers-wise.

“We’ve got a couple injured and you don’t half notice it straight away.

“There’s room to manoeuvre still in terms of bringing in players to the squad, but it’s got to be the right person instead of just being a number.

“Whoever we bring in, they’ve got to be contributing.

“We’ve lost a lot of players in the summer and we’ve spent a hell of a lot of time on the phone trying to get players to replace those that have disappointingly left us.”

Pool begin the new campaign with a trip to Wycombe Wanderers today after their promotion from League Two last season.

The Seasiders enjoyed an unbeaten pre-season, but Bowyer refuses to read too much into that and insists the summer friendlies were all about getting his players fit for the new coming weeks and months.

“I think every football manager, player and fan will tell you the start of the season is a special day and one you always look forward to,” he said.

“We’re delighted that we’ve finished pre-season and we can get down to the real business side of things at Wycombe on Saturday.

“Pre-season is just a case of planning and preparing.

“I understand pre-season, it’s about fitness and getting minutes in the legs. But I’m always glad when that last pre-season game has finished because it means you’re getting down to the real stuff.

“Saturday’s game will be different to any games we’ve played this summer in terms of the intensity and obviously what’s at stake at the end of it.

“Gareth Ainsworth has done a wonderful job at Wycombe, they’ve got promoted but they’ve managed to keep a lot of their players as well as adding a bit of quality as well.

“In terms of scouting them, it’s been a little bit easier from that sense because they’ve kept the core of their squad that got promoted.”

When asked what the target is for the coming season, Bowyer replied: “The target is always to be competitive.

“I’ve always been cautious of saying ‘we’re going to do this’ or ‘we’re going to do that’.

“Four or five games in people are losing their jobs so my aim is just to be as competitive as we can be, support the players, develop them and work hard with them.

“But we will try and get off to a good start and build from there.”