Gavin Cowan: I never wanted to leave Telford

Victory for Solihull Moors at New Bucks Head would see them crowned National North champions if third-placed North Ferriby United, who go to second-placed AFC Fylde, don't win.

But 34-year-old defender Cowan, who lives in Telford, insists he has nothing but fond memories of his two years at New Bucks Head.

The Hanover-born stopper said: "The truth is I never wanted to leave in the first place because I was released.

"Everyone who has been connected with the club thinks it's a fantastic club and is proud to have done so. But you move on and I'm focused on doing the job for Solihull Moors."

Player-coach Cowan is one of numerous Bucks connections in opposition, along with team-mates Steve Leslie, Darren Byfield and Andy Brown, manager Marcus Bignot and coach Darren Acton.

And he believes the links add spice to the occasion, after spending the week taking his Crossbar Coaching business out to the United States.

He said: "I suppose it's always going to. I only live a couple of minutes from Telford's ground, so I'm always looking out for their results and I always want them to do well.

"I'm very close to Andy (Brown), he's a very good friend of mine and we speak regularly away from football as well.

"We've said it's always great to go back to Telford because the couple of seasons we spent there were among the most successful in the club's history.

"We did very well and we had a great togetherness and a great group. We're talking at the moment about meeting for a reunion because it was such a good group – we worked together, but we socialised together as well.

"Even now we're still in touch so we always look forward to going back because we had such a great time and we had such a great affiliation with the fans and we're always well received."

Telford are seven games unbeaten with five wins and five consecutive clean sheets.

Cowan knows it will be anything but a cakewalk for the champions-elect, after they only narrowly beat the Bucks 2-1 before the latter's recent run.

He said: "The catalyst for them to kick on was the home game against us – we won but they played really well in the second-half.

"I get on really well with Rob (Smith) and Larry (Chambers) and they were saying it was a great performance and they were hoping to kick on and they've done that.

"It's going to be a good game because they still need points so they're going to be out to spoil our party and we've got the biggest prize in our league to get.

"It's always good to be playing teams who have something to play for, as opposed to sides who are seeing out the season.

"For the fans it's a fantastic occasion and we're really excited – we couldn't wait to get into training last night."

Solihull could wrap up the title, but Cowan insists they won't be distracted from the task in hand.

He said: "There's still a mathematical chance we might not do it so we're focused on getting over the line.

"We're trying to take it each 45 minutes as it comes, so we're not trying to focus on the title too much."