Barnes said: “With Graham Taylor the structure he developed was more to do with the principle of every player understanding what was required of them for 90 minutes.

“The method may be different. We are not going to play the Watford-style football here. But the principle of every player understanding what he has to do is going to be the same.”

Barnes added: “We have good players here, don’t get me wrong. But we don’t have Cristiano Ronaldos. That does not mean we can’s compete and be successful. If you can organise your side and empower them, and play with spirit and desire and will, then you can be successful.

“That’s why I’m not unduly disturbed about the players we have lost. Our organisation, our structure, our desire and discipline are the elements we have to concentrate on.”

Barnes is upbeat about plans to make regular use of loan signings to bolster the numbers in his squad over the coming months.

Rovers are likely to go into the new campaign with fewer than 20 players signed up on a permanent basis.

During the summer they lost influential midfield players Steve Jennings and Antony Kay and defender Ben Chorley to offers from clubs with deeper pockets.

Striker Ian Moore signed a new two-year contract towards the end of last week and goalkeeper Danny Coyne and midfielder Charlie Barnett are expected to decide on contract offers over the coming days. Meanwhile former Liverpool and Hull City midfielder John Welsh and Alan Mahon, the ex-Tranmere midfielder released by Burnley this summer, are understood to be training with Barnes’ squad.

Barnes said: “We know the financial constraints we are under. I don’t think we are going to bring in as many players as we let go. That’s a fact of modern football life for a club like Tranmere. I am under no illusions there.

“We have lost three top players but we are not in a situation where we have the money from their wages to spend on new players coming in. That’s the reality. I understand the circumstances and I have to work under them. So while we are looking to bring players in, we are not going to sign that many.

“What we are trying to do is exercise the loan option because that will not cost us as much. Depending on which players they are and from which clubs they come from, then perhaps we might be helped out financially.”