RYMAN League Division One North club Lowestoft Town`s rise up the football ladder is built on firm financial foundations, according to Craig Fleming. The Trawler Boys have brought in a number of quality additions over the last twelve months, including several from higher leagues and a handful of former players from King`s Lynn - who were dramatically wound up in the High Court late last year over mounting debts and an unpaid tax bill.

RYMAN League Division One North club Lowestoft Town`s rise up the football ladder is built on firm financial foundations, according to Craig Fleming.

The Trawler Boys have brought in a number of quality additions over the last twelve months, including several from higher leagues and a handful of former players from King`s Lynn - who were dramatically wound up in the High Court late last year over mounting debts and an unpaid tax bill.

Events at The Walks this winter were a legacy of the Linnets' push for Conference football but Fleming, part of the management team at Lowestoft and a former Lynn player, believes Lowestoft are on a much sounder footing.

Fleming said: "I've heard the rumours as well about will we be the next King`s Lynn? Not a jot.

"Every single player in our squad could get more money playing somewhere else, without a doubt. They are buying into the fact that we're doing things right. They've got Dave Carolan, the sports scientist from Colchester and formerly of Norwich there doing the fitness stuff, they've got me doing the coaching, Ady Gallagher and Micky Chapman on the scene as well, the chairman is backing it.

"It works, at that level it's not all about money. Obviously it is important to the boys but, to a man, they've bought into the idea of yes, we can hopefully go up the leagues. That is a fact - it's not a money thing.

"We're trying to do everything professionally and in a couple of years time we could be right up there."

The latest man to bag a ticket for the Trawler Boys' ride is former Southend midfielder Jamie Forshaw, who signed for the rest of the season on Tuesday after being released by Blue Square Premier side Ebbsfleet United.

Lowestoft are sitting comfortably at the top of the table and Fleming acknowledged they are already building with a view to the coming seasons - and with the aim of booking a place at the top of the non-league pyramid.

"Damn right, not just next season but the season after that. I am seriously thinking we could get somewhere near the Football League, I really do," said Fleming.

"The Conference is a real target. It's not going to be easy and I'm not getting ahead of myself, but that's the long, long term goal and to do that you need to get quality players in. I think there are enough around East Anglia that have either dropped out of the net or been missed by it, to get us there."

Town did suffer a setback last Saturday with a shock 3-2 home league defeat to struggling Ware, but bounced back with a comeback win over Tilbury on Tuesday to book a tough trip to Division One South side Croydon Athletic in the quarter finals of the Championship Manager Cup.

Fleming said: "Last Saturday we just didn't perform. They didn't do what they were told to do and we probably had five or six players that have been outstanding all season, they just didn't play on the day.

"On Tuesday they performed how they should be and that's all I've asked all season long. Results will take care of themselves if the performances are there."