Gladiators joint bosses Phil Brown and Gareth Williams hope to have decisions from at least three of their close season incoming targets by the end of the week.
The management duo have been working non stop since the final whistle of the last campaign, including both Bank Holidays as they strive to secure the players they have been pursuing which they hope will make the Gladiators a force in the UniBond League Premier Division once again.
Speaking on Tuesday teatime, Brown was optimistic of a positive response from the trio.
"I don't want to divulge any names at present but we'll be very pleased if we can get these players on board. Negotiations with them will continue and I am hopeful that they will have come to a decision one way or the other by the end of the week. We're also talking to a few more players. Last season we finished 16th in the division and while it could so easily have been tenth had we beaten Ashton on the last day like we should have done, reality is that we finished just one point above the relegation places. We know we need to strengthen . We know who we're after and what we want. The signs are good and we know that players want to come to Matlock for they know the tremendous spirit at the club and in the changing room. We're looking to get these three players in and then supplement them with some younger players."
For the second season in succession the make up of the UniBond Premier Division is unclear with teams further up the non league pyramid facing an uncertain future because of financial problems.
Halifax Town will no longer play Blue Square Conference football and could even find themselves in the UniBond First Division North or below, bearing in mind Scarborough had to reform as Scarborough Athletic and ply their trade in the Notrthern Counties East League First Division during 2007/08. Halifax's demise robs the Gladiators of another "derby" as Hucknall Town have earned a reprieve and will remain in Blue Square North for the 2008/2009 season.
But the uncertainty doesn't end there as both Nuneaton Borough and Boston United might find themselves demoted from Blue Square North which will mean that both Vauxhall Motors and Leigh RMI could both stay in that league and not face the Gladiators in the new season.
Leigh have decided to go full time having a new stadium to move into when the new campaign commences on Saturday August 16, thus highlighting how increasingly difficult it is for clubs on limited budgets like Matlock and Frickley Athletic to compete on an even keel.
Meanwhile there has been joy for for two former Matlock goalkeepers in recent play off finals at Wembley Stadium.
Matt Taylor, the Gladiators player of the year back in 2003/04, starred at centre half for Exeter City in their Conference Premier success against Cambridge United which saw the Grecians return to the Football League.
Last weekend Matt Duke was a non playing substitute as Hull City clinched promotion to the Premiership for the very first time with a 1-0 win against Bristol City.
