OXFORD United will not break the bank to bring in star names as they attempt to strengthen the squad for Sky Bet League One, according to head coach Michael Appleton.

With decisions now taken to release five players and offer contracts to two others from within this season’s group, attention is now turning to summer recruitment.

United chairman Darryl Eales has sanctioned an increase in the playing budget to ensure the U’s are competitive at a higher level next season.

Appleton believes up to half a dozen new faces could be required, but while they are in the market for quality players, they are not looking to blow their wage structure apart and risk upsetting the camp.

The U’s boss said: “One thing I’m very conscious of all the time is making sure I’ve got a group that are united.

“It’s very difficult to have that if you have one player earning ridiculous amounts and someone else on peanuts.”

He added: “I don’t want to get away from what we’ve been really good at, which is getting young, hungry players with ability but more importantly have the mentality to go and improve.

“You’ve only got to look at Leicester City as an example.

“If you get enough like-minded people who want to work their socks off for each other and have ability then things can happen.

“We’re not going to be able to compete with certain clubs financially, that’s a fact.

“But it doesn’t mean they’ve got a better team than us because they can pay someone £5,000 a week and it doesn’t mean they’re better than a player we’ve got on £1,500 a week.”

Appleton was aiming to move swiftly for one signing last week, but while the deal is not dead United have told the target they will not be making an improved offer.

Otherwise there is unlikely to be a repeat of last summer, when there was a drive to complete virtually all the club’s transfer business before the players returned for the start of pre-season.

With the core of his squad now in place and a reputation on the rise following promotion, Appleton believes United can be more patient to see who becomes available.

He said: “I’m a little more relaxed this year than I was last year, just because all of a sudden we have become an attraction.

“You can tell that by the conversations we’re having with agents and the players that are being thrown at us."

“They are very different to the ones from last year.”