The club has already brought in striker Ross Hannah and defenders Lee Featherstone and Ashley Foyle this month.

However, Brown and management partner Gareth Williams have been speaking to four or five other players “who will do a good job for us.”

The July 5 date marks the return of the Gladiators squad to pre-season training, and Brown and Williams are working feverishly to have some additional new faces at that first session.

“We're still looking to strengthen in certain areas and we're waiting for people to get back to us,” said Brown, who remained as tight-lipped as ever when it came to naming targets.

“We've been speaking to four or five lads who we feel will do a good job for us and we're wanting them to be with us when pre-season training starts again on July 5, along with several trialists that we plan to take a good look at in training and in the pre-season friendly games.

“We're very happy with the signings we've made so far and we'll be looking to add to them.”

One of the new signings could potentially replace James Lukic as skipper after the talismanic centre-half’s departure to Blue Square Conference North Gainsborough Trinity.

Town fans have already initiated an online ‘new captain’ vote on the club’s website forum, but Brown and Williams have their own thoughts.

“There are a couple of candidates from last season,” said Brown.

“Ryan Laight did very well when James was injured and Simon Barraclough revelled in the responsibility in the home game with Kendal, but there could also be a potential candidate from a player we're looking to bring to the club, so at the moment a decision hasn’t been made.

“But whoever takes over has a tough act to follow for James was an outstanding leader.”

Lukic's testimonial game against Blackburn Rovers at the Geoquip Stadium on Wednesday July 23 definitely goes ahead and it will be one of new Rovers boss Paul Ince's first games in charge of the Ewood Park club.

Ince's recent appointment saw him become the first black Englishman to manage in the FA Premier League.

Referee for the game is Sheffield's Uriah Rennie, while another Premiership official, Bolsover's Glenn Turner, who was an assistant referee in the 2006 World Cup Finals in Germany and has vast Premier League experience, will be on the line.

“We're really pleased that Uriah will be making a return to Causeway Lane, having refereed for many years in the UniBond (Northern Premier) League before his elevation to the Football League and Premiership,” a Matlock spokesman said.

The Blackburn fixture forms part of a busy first week of friendly games for the Gladiators whose pre-season programme commences with a trip to Staveley Miners Welfare on Saturday July 19.

Chesterfield are at the Lane for the annual Banner Jones Trophy meeting on Friday July 25 before, on the following afternoon, Town visit UniBond First Division South Carlton Town.