THE playing season may be over but the team-building season is just getting under way.

Sedgley Park are quietly going about the business of building a squad that can survive in the red hot rugby furnace that is National Division One.

Club president Geoff Roberts and player-coach Tim Fourie are busy identifying, contacting and making offers to a variety of players.

The club's commitment to spend within its means is drawing the process out, but both believe it is the only way to work.

"Tim provides me with the names and we then get together to discuss what is possible, but because we are part-time it does tend to slow the process down," explained Roberts.

"For example, one current Premiership player we've approached was impressed with what we have to offer and our ambition, but he still has a hankering to stay in the Premiership.

"So he is considering his options and there's a possibility he will get back to us."

"We are also in negotiation with two other current Premiership players and we've made offers to two National One players also.

"You have to be prepared to search and search and search, and always have a plan B,C,D and E ready in case your number one target either doesn't get back to you or turns you down."

Fourie is having to combine getting to grips with a new full-time job alomg with his search for reinforcements.

Althoiugh he's loving every minute of it there are obvious drawbacks.

"Once you start to discuss part-time money with full-time guys a lot of them tend to lose interest," he said.

"Agents continually phone me up to push their guys, more so now than this time last year.

"A lot of people out there still think we have a bottomless pit of money at Sedgley Park, and that because we'll be competing in National One we must be prepared to break the bank, but that's just not the case.

"We're not going to fall into the trap of spending more than we can afford, that's a sure-fire way of going out of business."

However, not everyone he is interested in is driven purely by money.

"I'm talking to two front row players at the moment, one from a National One side and one from a National Three side.

"And for once it's been refreshing to hear neither are driven by the money on offer.

"They just want to play at a higher level. How can you turn people like that away?

"Obviously we discussed what we could afford to pay them if they made it in the first team.

"But money was not their prime consideration. They just want to play the game.

"It just shows you have to leave no stone unturned if you want to find the right guys.

"Another guy I'm speaking to is already a part-timer at a National One club.

"Hopefully what we can offer will tempt him to join us."

At the time of going to press Sedgley had not signed anyone, although it is hoped the situation may change next week.