It looks set to be another busy week for Silkmen boss Keith Alexander as he continues the work to shape his squad for the coming season.

We caught up with the gaffer earlier today to find out a little more his plans, his forthcoming holiday and first off his thoughts on last weekend's play-off final.

"I went to the game at Wembley on Saturday," explained Keith, "and you'd be hard pushed to describe it as a classic."

"But that often happens when there is so much at stake. In the end I thought it was a fair result with Gillingham just about shading it and I over the course of the season they probably deserved to be promoted."

"Shrewsbury, having spent all that money, will naturally be disappointed. But Gillingham also spent a bit of money as well. So it just goes to show that money is a big factor even at our level."

"I fully expect Shrewsbury to therefore be there or thereabouts again next season and history tells us that one of the promoted teams will also do well. So I wouldn't be surprised to see Burton or more likely Torquay challenging. And of course it would be wrong to dismiss the chances of the four teams who were relegated from League One."

"I hear the bookies have us down as rank outsiders. It's not for me to comment on that only that I suppose you can understand it given where the club has finished over the last few years. It doesn't worry me though and if anything it should spur us on to prove people wrong."

So any more signings planned for this week?

"Hopefully we should be in a position to announce at least one, probably tomorrow and possibly one or two more."

"We are still in discussions with Izak Reid and Gareth Evans who have both been made substantially better offers than what they were on last season. Ideally I would have liked to have had a decision much earlier but they're exercising their right to speak to other clubs which is fair enough."

"Of course I want them to stay and I believe we have offered them good deals and a chance of first team football, which they will benefit from in the long term. But we won't be busting the bank to sign anyone so it is now down to them to decide if they want to commit."

"If they don't, then with them both being under 24 we would be entitled to compensation. Either way I just want to get things sorted quickly so I can make firmer plans for next season."

"And hopefully we should also have some news about Kristian Dennis. He's a good young lad that has the potential to do well with a few more games under his belt."

And next stop Orlando?

"Yes that's right. I head off there with the family for ten days for a holiday albeit the phone is never off. They need a break as much as I do and it will be good to get away for a few days."

And tell us about your trip to St Lucia

"A week after I return from America I head off out to St Lucia. Myself and a couple of other coaches will be doing some work for the St Lucian FA which should be very interesting given my folks also live over there."

"More importantly I am keen to explore ways in which we can formalise some kind of relationship between St Lucia and Macclesfield. Its early days yet but hopefully something can come of it. There's a lot of exciting talent in the country and if we can benefit from it in some way, whilst giving the lads an opportunity to come over to the UK, then potentially it's a win-win situation."

"But as I say, it's a long way off and not helped by the fact that St Lucia have slipped out of the top 120 countries in FIFA rankings."

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