Rovers Player spoke to manager Brain Flynn ahead of the game against Bury this weekend.
With the transfer deadline now passed, Brian spoke about the importance of keeping the current squad intact.
“The most important thing when, I came here as manager, was to make certain that the current squad wasn’t split up and we’ve achieved that.
“When you’re top of the league it’s because you’ve got some good players; we’ve got some good players here so there’s always a possibility that somebody will make an enquiry – I’m not aware of any inquiries for any of our players.”
“As a coach it’s important that you work with that squad you have got from the start of the season and try to improve them; that should see you through the season. I don’t think you should need a transfer window if that’s the case - as a coach I don’t want the window because I’m happy with what I’ve got.
“For smaller clubs that are developing players, it makes it more difficult for them because they can’t sell players when they need money and that traditionally has been the way for a lot of lower league clubs to help fund the club.”
Although there was no league fixture last weekend, the squad headed to Carrington to play a behind closed door friendly against Manchester United.
“We had a really good training game against Manchester United on Monday. For many reasons it was good; we had seven players who got 90minutes from the game against some really talented players. It was great preparation for some of the players.
“Martin Woods had 50 minutes at Carrington which is good considering the problems he has had recently. He’s trained fully now for over a week and got to play 50 minutes too which is excellent.
“He’s had a long lay-off and the records prove, not just with Martin but with other players too who have been out for a long time, that minor injuries do occur along the way to regaining fitness.
“He’s been astute enough to manage his training and make sure he doesn’t pick up these niggling injuries.
“The bulk of gaining fitness levels is done in pre-season, the players that have a good pre-season fitness wise tend not to get many injuries during the season that tells you how important that four or five week period before the season starts actually is. “
Brian spoke about the quality of the squad at Rovers compared to when he first arrived here in the summer.
“When I came here in August to help Dean re-build the squad I went over to Cleethorpes to watch the first pre-season game and have a look at the players that played that day. After the game I said to
Dean ‘we have got a major job on to build this team’ and to be fair that is exactly what has happened in the last six months – It’s taken time but now that little bit of patience has paid off.
“This is a well drilled, well organised squad who know their jobs and in that sense it’s been easy for me out on the training ground – I’ve just inputted the little things that I’ve learned over the last 20 years.”
Brian also spoke about Saturday’s opponents Bury.
“I was at Shrewsbury, last week, to watch Bury play; they are very resolute, defended really well and were difficult to beat.
“Being top of the league, people want to beat you, recently I went to Bramall Lane and saw Hartlepool beat Sheffield United 3-1 and deservedly so too.
“So the teams down the bottom are capable of beating the teams at the top, but what I have got in the dressing room is a group of winners who have done it all before and more importantly they have got the hunger to do it again.”