Preston North End youth-teamers Lincoln McFayden and Tyrhys Dolan have joined the Blues on work experience ‘loan’ deals until the end of the season as Brown looks to inject some fresh impetus into his squad.

Clitheroe saw their winless run extend to seven games with last Saturday’s 3-1 home defeat to Mossley and Brown felt it was time to act with the play-off places still four points away.

“That one was probably a bridge too far,” admitted the Blues’ boss.

“I’ve said I think we could have won five of the six games before.

“But last Saturday we were miles off it and it’s the first time really I’ve questioned the players’ attitude and I think I was right to do that.

“I’ve brought a couple of players in to freshen it up, so let’s see where we go from here.

“They are good signings. They have both done well in the youth set-up at Preston and will bring some energy and quality to us.”

The Preston pair - both 18 – are second-year scholars who helped North End reach the fifth round of the FA Youth before losing to Blackburn Rovers, when Dolan (pictured) was on the scoresheet in a 4-2 defeat at Ewood Park earlier this month.

Forward Dolan will add to the Blues’ attacking options, while McFayden will provide competition on the left-hand side of Clitheroe’s defence.

Their arrival is timely with Jayden Major returning to Burnley and Jake Connelly missing with an ankle injury sustained playing for the English Colleges representative side.

And the duo – who will join on-loan Preston midfielder Jack Baxter at Shawbridge – will strengthen Brown’s hand at a key stage.

The Blues have slipped off the play-off pace, but Brown is not throwing in the towel on the promotion race.

And he believes whatever the next few weeks hold, nothing should detract from what has been a season of progress at Shawbridge following last season’s struggles when the Blues amassed just 28 points to finish third from bottom of the table.

“It’s not lost on me and I don’t think it’s lost on the fans,” added Brown, moving towards the end of a first campaign in charge.

“It’s natural when you do well you want to keep it going. And when things don’t quite your way you probably scrutinise it even more.

“But the bigger picture is we’re in ninth, we’ve got a couple of games in hand on seventh and eighth and we’re not out of it with 12 games to go.

“What happens between now and the end of the season, who knows? We’ve just got to keep going.

“I’m not writing anything off – I never would - and we’ll give it a go.

“It has been frustrating over the last few weeks, but I’m happy with how we’ve done.

“When we came it at the beginning of the season, it was ‘give the fans something to follow and a team they can clap and come and watch home and away’ and be as successful as we possibly can.

“I think we’ve ticked the first box and with 12 games to go we are being as successful as we possibly can.

“What the end position will be, who knows? But even now, we’ve got (nine) more points than we did last year and we’ve still got 12 games to go.

“And we’ve a squad now where, if things go right, we can build on for next season. I’m not inheriting two or three players like we did this season. Foundations are being laid.”

Meanwhile, the Blues’ fixture at Runcorn Linnets, which was postponed a fortnight ago, has been re-arranged for Tuesday, 10 March.