Croydon Athletic boss Dave Garland says his current squad have seven games to impress or face the scrapheap after being handed a war-chest for Ryman Premier League survival.

Danish football fans’ company Fodboldsekskabet A/S took a 51 per cent stake in the club this week to become joint owners of the Rams alongside controversial businessman Mazhar Majeed.

It is a deal that will see Athletic sign their first ever full-time professionals in January when two Danish players arrive at the club in the hope of catching the attention of Football League scouts.

Garland and assistant Bob Langford, who have been assured of their jobs until the end of the season, believe they have the means to stave off relegation.

The KT Stadium chief says that will inevitably lead to sweeping changes, but those who have impressed thus far will be given their chance.

“There are quite a few players who have done tremendously well for us this season, but our position in the league shows we haven’t quite got the quality to compete at this level,” he said.

“We need to get that quality in and we’ve spoken to about half a dozen players already who are keen to come. It means there will be fresh faces and unfortunately that means some players will have to leave.

“We are starting from scratch again to try and rebuild a team, so it is going to take time - maybe six or seven games to get a look at everyone.

“We’ve been given a budget enough to keep us up and if we can finish fifth bottom we’ll have had a great season.”

Great Danes Palle Katring-Rasmussen and Christopher Baadsgaard, whose firm has the backing of more than 400 football fans from Denmark, had tried to buy in to Chester City and an unnamed League Two club before settling on the Rams.

“It seems the well-documented bad publicity we have received is the reason they have got involved,” added Garland.

Croydon will welcome their first full-time players to the club following the arrival of the new co-owners in a deal that Garland has labelled an early Christmas present.

“The new investment is huge boost and these are exciting times for the club. The new co-owners seem like good people and they have a five year plan for success,” he added.

“I think the two players that will come in will be the first pros this club has ever had. From what we can tell they are Conference and League Two standard so we’re under no illusion why they are here.

“But they come here as Croydon players and will be doing their best for the team to further their ambitions.”

Saturday’s trip to Bromley remains in doubt with snow still reported to be on the Hayes Lane pitch.