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Finding a new striker is the priority for Stimpson, who will also have to fill a hole left by Iain Swan, who is expected to leave the club for pastures new. Stimpson had thought he had found his man in Ian Stevens, the veteran former Football League striker who lives in Lancaster.
But Stevens decided not to sign, leaving 17-year-old Jordan Connerton with little support in attack. Stimpson said: "I will be stepping up my search for a striker. I am confident that I can get somebody in over the next couple of weeks."
Ian Stevens had approached chairman Mick Hoyle about coming to the club and Stimpson had expected to complete the signing last Thursday. But the veteran striker decided not to join City and is looking elsewhere for a club.
Stimpson said: "I was disappointed but I wish him all the best in the future." Stevens' decision ruined Stimpson's plans to pair him with Connerton, with the hope that the former's experience of a host of Football League clubs would rub off on the youngster.
"I don't want to put too much pressure on Jordan Connerton. He is a very young boy and is playing regularly for his college as well as for us. "I would love to be able to use him sparingly, so he could come in and be fresh for a game."
Stevens, signed initially from Shrewsbury for £100,000 in May 2005, played for the Blues in two spells at Brunton Park, in the dark days of the mad-Michael Knighton era, but such worries didn't stop the Maltese born striker scoring 51 times in 144 starts for United.