GUISELEY have gone full-time in their bid to make a bigger impact in the Vanarama National League.

The new regime came into place on Monday and sees the bulk of the enlarged first-team squad training four days a week.

The previous Tuesday and Thursday evening sessions at Crofton have been supplemented by additional ones on Monday and Friday mornings at Silsden.

The decision to go full time comes as the club faces two key home games in four days as they seek to pull away from the relegation zone.

Fellow strugglers Solihull Moors visit Nethermoor on Saturday with Borehamwood taking on the Lions on Tuesday.

Manager Paul Cox said: “Every part of the club is evolving and the move to full time is part of it.

“I have been open and honest with the players. There will be some concessions for the players who have good jobs who will join us for training when they can.

“Everybody will be given a fair chance to be part of the club as we move forward.”

Cox has been working tirelessly to transform the club and its playing fortunes and he is hopeful of appointing an assistant manager soon to lighten his workload.

“It is an exciting project and I am really enjoying it, but we mustn’t lose sight of where we are,” said Cox.

“We have changed the environment and the culture of the club, but we need to change the results.

“We are in the bottom four with only one league win this season and have a goal difference of minus 18.

“Going full time will enable me to spend more time with the players working on the little things that can make a big difference.

“We know there is a lot of work to do, but the spirit and commitment of the players has been good.

“We have drawn five of the seven league games we have played since I arrived and now we need to be more ruthless in both boxes and turn the draws into wins.

“I felt we were ruthless last week when we beat Shildon 6-0 in the FA Cup. We really took the game to them when they had a player sent off and might have scored more goals.

“My aim is to galvanise the players and make them believe and attack this league. A couple of wins could make a big difference.”

The victory over Shildon could give a boost to Guiseley’s coffers.

They have landed a home tie in the first round against League Two outfit Accrington Stanley on November 4.

“All I wanted was a home tie,” said Cox. “Accrington are going well and their manager John Coleman has done a great job. It will be good to take them on at Nethermoor and it is a real test.”

Cox is keen that his players don’t get distracted by the FA Cup and maintain their focus on the battle to garner league points.

The Lions have three games before facing Accrington. “We will think about the cup tie once we have played the league matches. Points are our priority and the players mustn’t think too far ahead,” said Cox.