Mark Cooper says Barrow AFC must have clarity in how they will approach the January transfer window as they seek the help to turn their form around.

Cooper says recent results have highlighted exactly what the Bluebirds need in the market.

The manager, whose side sit fifth bottom after a nine-game winless League Two run and four without scoring, says a goalscorer is clearly required.

And he says the Bluebirds must approach the winter window with focus and not repeat past mistakes.

“January’s coming and we need to have clear processes in place about how and where we go, and what we recruit,” he said.

“We don’t want to be in a situation like [the club was in] last year, where there were 35 players, so many managers and it becomes a mess.

“We’ve got to be really clear in what we do. That’s what I’m doing now, to make sure we get the right players in.

“I’ve got players in mind. The big thing is trying to get them to come to Barrow.

“That’s not being disrespectful – that’s the truth. We’ve got to have something that attracts them to want to come and play for us.”

Cooper has suggested that the most likely market for the Bluebirds will concern young loan centre-forwards.

He has seen his goal-shy side fail to net in consecutive league games against Carlisle, Crawley, Forest Green and Sutton.

The run has seen the Bluebirds slide down the table and they are now just four points above the relegation zone.

Their winless league run is now the longest in the EFL after Carlisle ended their own 13-match wait for a victory last weekend.

There is respite from AFC’s league struggles this week as Barrow prepare for their FA Cup second round trip to Ipswich.

Cooper says he was pleased with the way his side performed in the 1-0 defeat at Sutton but has called for more ruthlessness when good chances come along.

“We were really good from our box to the edge of theirs, but once we had those opportunities we went to pieces,” he told BBC Cumbria.

“That’s what we need to sort out in January; someone to stick the ball in the net, that’s all we’re missing.

“We’re looking and have to make sure we get someone desperate to play and can do what we need, which is put the ball in the net.

“There wasn’t much wrong with our performance [at Sutton] and I was pleased with how the players trained, but one thing we can’t do for them is put the ball in the net.

“It’s about being mentally strong and ruthless. That scramble at the end…we should be putting three of their players in the back of the net. It was like, ‘after you, you do it…’

“We have to have that mentality where someone has to put the ball in the back of the net whether they get a broken nose or split eye.”