NEW Braintree Town manager Jamie Day is confident that he will have Simeon Akinola, Michael Cheek and Chez Isaac on board for next season.

However, the Iron boss admits he is having to be patient while other members of last year's record-breaking squad weigh up their options to decide their immediate futures.

Day is working hard in the opening days of his time in charge trying to keep hold of the players he wants after taking the helm from former boss Danny Cowley and said the best offers that the club can afford have been made to members of the squad.

Those offers are on improved terms from last year and Day is pleased that last season's top-scorer Cheek, Akinola and Isaac have agreed to stay.

He told the Braintree and Witham Times: "Chez has agreed terms for next season, while Cheeky and Simeon have got another year.

"Both had retainers, but we felt they deserved an increase and we offered them that.

"They have accepted that and as far as I'm concerned, they'll be with us next year.

"Cheeky was saying how he is looking forward to pre-season, but we are having to be patient on others for now.

"We have made offers to the rest, but the deadline for them to come back to us is Saturday.

"When that comes around, if the boys say no, then we will use the money in the budget to bring in new players.

"I want all the boys from last year to stay, but we have to be realistic as there will be some moving on.

"We've seen a few clubs throwing money around and that's causing a bit of a delay as some are seeing offers from elsewhere.

"We have offered deals improved from last year as we are trying to keep them all, but we'll know more over the weekend about who has taken it up or not.

"I wanted to give the boys as long as possible to decide their positions as it's not easy for them.

"We want them to stay, but it has to reach a point where if we don't look after our club, then we're going to be left behind.

"I feel we have done our best to keep the boys with the offers we've made, but unfortunately some have been offered more elsewhere.

"That's fine, but we will stay within our budget and we'll have a clearer picture at the weekend."