MANAGER Alan Knill had 10 names at the top of his shopping list this summer to rebuild his Scunthorpe United squad.

And although he has missed out on a couple of those targets, he is happy with the way his plans are going.

Striker Jordan Robertson arrived at Glanford Park last week – and there could be one or two more new faces following in the next few days.

Knill insists he will never be held to ransom over a potential signing, refusing to pay over the odds to try and bring them in.

"I was talking to Tranmere manager Les Parry recently, who I have known for a long time, and when I asked him how his recruitment was going, he told me he was not bothering until late June or July," said Knill.

"He thought it was a complete waste of time talking to players during the first month of the summer break.

"He waits to do his work when the players themselves are wanting to get something sorted out.

"And there was me panicking that I had not got anybody in."

Knill admits he would love to bring in five new faces right now.

"But the transfer market in summer never really works out like that," he continued.

"I have probably spoken to about 10 players. I have missed out on a couple and yes, I was disappointed – but they were probably not the right ones for us.

"I think you have got to be persistent when you are chasing players – and consistent with what you say to them right from the start.

"Just because you might lose them, you should never say 'right, here's X amount of money to get you'.

"Then they are coming for the money – and not for what we are trying to sell to them. We are trying to sell to them that if they sign for Scunthorpe, we will make them into a better player and give them a chance to progress their career.

"That is what I tried to sell when I was manager at Bury and that is what I am trying to sell here.

"The difficulty now is that players all want the money – but it should never be like that when you are a young player.

"If the football is right, then the money will come to them. The harder you work, the more success you have."

Knill revealed he had been talking to the agent of one young player, who also had the chance to go to a club at Championship level.

He feared the lure of bigger money would steer that player away from Scunthorpe.

"But to me, they first thought for a young player should be 'will I play' rather than how much you might get paid," said the United manager.