BRAINTREE Town fans are likely to see fewer loan players in their team’s ranks under manager Brad Quinton than they have in recent years.

Iron bosses have utilised the loan market to varying degrees over the last few seasons during their time in the top flight of English non-league football, but new manager Quinton isn’t a fan of the system.

Braintree start their pre-season fixtures this weekend when they head to Thurlow Nunn League division one side Long Melford, before a trip to Thurlow Nunn League premier division club Newmarket Town on Tuesday.

It will give Quinton the first chance to see his new squad in action, but he says he won’t be padding out the group with loanees ahead of the start of the season in August.

Hakan Hayrettin, who was in charge for most of last season as they got relegated from the National League, was an extensive user of the system of bringing in players from higher-placed clubs on a temporary basis.

That was partly due to injury problems within his squad and saw varying degrees of success, with the likes of Colchester United’s George Elokobi having a positive impact, while others struggled to make a mark.

However, Quinton insists he doesn’t want to go down that route now he is at the helm unless it is absolutely necessary and is building his squad at the moment with permanent signings.

He said: “There will be some players who may have joined pro clubs at this time of year who are then available for loans, but I don’t really want to go down that route myself. I want this to be a fresh start and to start with a squad that is ours.

“I don’t like to rely on loan players as I don’t think it’s right for the blend in the dressing room and there are things like sometimes they aren’t available for training from their parent club.

“With me, I have to have a good dressing room and have people willing to work for the squad rather than just coming in because they are on loan.

“I don’t like to have that in and around the squad - that’s just my personal thoughts.

“Sometimes you do get the chance to get a talented player in like that and sometimes you have to go down that route, so if it’s right then we will look to do that, but I don’t believe in getting too many into the dressing room.”