KEVIN Blackwell has earmarked four quality signings to propel Bury from competitive League Two outfit to title contenders.

But the Shakers manager has warned he may have to wait until the transfer window has closed before tempting the standard of player he is after to join the club on loan.

Blackwell was speaking after watching his side match Championship outfit Blackpool for stamina, commitment and organisation in their pre-season friendly at Gigg Lane on Tuesday night.

“We looked competitive – now we have to add that little bit of quality,” he said after John Rooney’s 88th-minute strike earned Bury a deserved 1-1 draw.

“I’m still one or two players short and trying to get those players in is proving very difficult.

“I know the players I’m trying to get, but it’s down to other clubs.”

Bury added the signing of 22-year-old Rwandan international Jessy Reindorf on a two year deal yesterday, following hot on the heels of 21-year-old winger Aiden Chippendale, who arrived on a 12-month contract on Tuesday, while Blackwell also agreed a deal with Blackburn to secure the services of 19-year-old striker Anton Forrester on a six-month loan.

Those signing increased the Bury squad to 21  including injured defender Phil Picken - yet Shakers boss was at pains to stress his latest recruits were not his number one targets.

Experienced players like Bournemouth centre-back Stephane Zubar and former Bolton and Burnley forward Robbie Blake remain out of reach, but the wily former Leeds and Sheffield United boss will not be forced into playing his hand too soon.

“The season is 11 months long,” he said. “If we have got to sacrifice four weeks at the beginning of the season, a lot will become very clear on the 31st of August. Players who think they have got a future at a particular club will find out they haven’t.

“If we blow all our powder before that point, we could be left thinking ‘we could have had him and it could have made a big difference’.”

Top of Blackwell’s list of priorities is a right-back, with trialist Liam Marrs – a 20-year-old development squad player at Sunderland – doing enough against Blackpool to suggest he could provide at least a short-term solution.

But the Bury boss has made it very clear he has bigger fish to fry.

“I’m not looking at players who I think can play at League Two. I’m looking to sign players who can play in League One. That’s the difference in the quality,” he said.

“I don’t want us to be the same as the rest – I want us to be just above them, and that’s the key to the signings I want to make.

“If we can get those extra three or four players at that level then it’s going to make a difference.”