Steve Burr wants to make three new signings this month but the manager understands finances might not allow it.

Chester have generated more than £100,000 through the FA Cup this season but the supporter-owned Blues have to be more prudent than most to ensure the club remains sustainable in the long term.

Burr has an agreement funds will be made available to strengthen his squad, but told The Chronicle he was waiting to hear what he has to spend.

A new striker is the priority to ease the burden on Craig Hobson, Kane Richards and Tom Peers, and fill the void left by the departures of loan pair Matty Hughes and Rhys Oates.

Depending on how much is made available and whether he can move out some fringe players, the manager could look for a central midfielder and a full-back too, with AFC Telford United's Ryan Higgins on his shopping list.

Burr said: “I was told that if we could get some money in through the cup then some of that would be made available to use so I’m hoping there will be money to bring people in.

“I think we need to bring three lads in to strengthen us and I would like to do that but if there is no money there then we understand and we’ll work with what we have and get the best out of them.

“I’m just waiting to see what we can do and what we can’t do, and I’m sure that will be sorted out so we can get cracking and bring one or two in.

“The squad has done brilliant up to now but I don’t want to rest on that, I want us to keep pushing on and keep improving.

“We do seem to have hit a bit of a barrier and hopefully getting a couple more in can help us get over that and into the top half of the table.

“I’m looking at all areas but we do need another forward because losing Matty and Rhys in mid-December when you can’t go out and get another loan in was very difficult.

“We managed to get Kane in as a non-contract and he’s done well but he’s still one for the future really.”

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Following a disenchanting 2-0 defeat at home to Altrincham on Boxing Day, the Blues responded with a fine 2-0 win at FC Halifax Town on Sunday, ending a run of six games without a win.

Matty Brown gave them an early lead and 19-year-old Tom Peers wrapped up the points with his first senior goal with six minutes to go.

Chester travel to Alty for the return fixture on New Year’s Day before hosting Braintree Town on Sunday (both 3pm).

Burr welcomes left-back Gareth Roberts back from suspension and expects both Hobson (dead leg) and Jon Worsnop (hamstring) to shake off minor knocks.

“Since being knocked out of the FA Cup, we’d had a little bit of disappointment when we’ve struggled with individual performances,” said the Chester manager.

“After the Boxing Day game there probably wasn’t many people giving us much of a chance at Halifax but I know the lads have got that in them because I’ve seen them do it and results like that get the confidence flowing again.

“We’ve improved, we’ve had a little dip and I know we’ll have dips further down the line but we’re just trying to get as many points as we can.

“The most pleasing thing for me at Halifax was the fact that the lads got back at what they’ve been doing for most of the season, and that’s really working hard as a team and the energy was there and that was missing against Altrincham on Boxing Day.”