DESPITE a stuttering November, it's been an excellent first half to the season.

We've already been to three of the fancied clubs, Chester, Shrewsbury and Barnet, but if our half-term report states 'very good' it might have been even better given the position we were in five or six weeks ago.

The run that we've had was disappointing but the important thing for the team and the individuals has been how we got out of if. And for that reason the last two victories have been so important.

Confidence is a major factor in the way we play. There are still some teams in the Conference which are very powerful and they get the ball forward and run after it. To some extent that doesn't need confidence to achieve the end result.

We're a team which works the ball from the back and through midfield and to do that you need a high number of individual players right on their game. It only needs two or three lacking in confidence or avoiding the ball and the whole thing breaks down.

When we play with that confidence, our type of game really shows excellent movement off the ball and there are plenty of chances created. It's a testimony to the players that we've scored 50 goals and, in my view, missed a lot more beside.

I'm repeatedly asked by supporters when we're going to strengthen the squad.

If we avoid injuries, I think we still need to add three players, whether on loan or permanently, and that's not taking into account any problems with the present squad.

Before we sign someone permanently there are four questions to resolve:

Is he good enough?

Will he drop into the Conference?

Can we afford him?

Is he of the right character?

The last factor is crucial when signing a player. We do our homework by asking his former managers and playing colleagues what sort of lad he is around the club, what's he like in training and generally whether he's a 'good pro'. A good example of that was Mick Galloway last season, who had the ability to make an impact and had the right character in talking to the players around him.

We were interested in bringing in a defender last week but reports of his attitude were not over complimentary so that was quickly dropped.

But we have a 'second viewing' of a couple of players this week and if that seems OK then there may be some developments over the next fortnight.