Jon McCarthy is happy to be a sounding board for Steve Burr because he has total confidence in the Chester FC manager’s transfer instinct.

Chester are one of the few Vanarama National League clubs still to make a signing but the first team coach has reassured supporters there’s no need to panic.

McCarthy played under Burr at Hucknall Town and Northwich Victoria and considers him a shrewd mover in the close-season market.

"I speak to him everyday about players and sometimes three or four times a day," said McCarthy.

"We were in on Tuesday and we spoke to four players and then the gaffer was going to see another that night.

"We can’t give names at the moment and the players are talking to other clubs too so it’s a process but they are exciting.

"Players talk to clubs and want to get the best deal for themselves, and we’re trying to do the same with the budget we’ve got.

"The gaffer’s very good at this game, he’s got fantastic contacts and he knows what he’s doing. It’s a constant battle but I think the gaffer enjoys this side of it.

"I give him lots of input through the week and we talk about different players but it’s like I’ve always said, if he wakes up and has a feeling about something then I trust his judgement."

Burr has stated his desire to improve on this season’s 12th place finish in 2015-16 but with the budget around the same level knows that won’t be simple.

Chester have lost out on a couple of players already to clubs able to offer bigger wages but McCarthy expects the manager to pull the odd rabbit out of the hat to help the club kick on.

"The budget we’ve got is pretty similar to last season and I’d guess it would still place us around the bottom six or seven but the gaffer’s ambitious and we want to improve," said McCarthy.

"We’re not in a rush but if a player we’d like is available and we think it’s right for us then we’ll act.

"We ask around, find out as much as we can about them and get them in. You get a feel for a player when you talk to them.

"We’re trying to get some experience in and players from a higher level to help us push on into the play-offs. I think last season we probably knew our squad wasn’t quite at that level but we kept on pushing for it.

"We’re not like some clubs where there are four or five lads in each position and the gaffer knows the positions he wants to improve and where he wants to add a little bit more experience to help us do that."