Gittings is urged to grasp Telford chance

The Bucks were at Curzon Ashton in the National League North today with fewer options in midfield due to Fowler leaving by mutual consent and Jack Rea ruled out with an ankle knock.

Rea has had trouble with his ankle throughout the campaign so far and was forced off after 12 minutes in the 2-0 win over Stalybridge Celtic at the New Bucks Head on Tuesday night.

Gittings came on in his place and impressed, with Smith now challenging him to produce similar performances on a consistent basis.

"Callum came on for us on Tuesday and he did really well," he said.

"He has just now got to reproduce that kind of form in the games coming up."

Dwayne Samuels, Sean Williams and Dan Preston were also carrying knocks heading into today's game against Curzon Ashton.

On the departure of 33-year-old Fowler, announced by the club yesterday, Smith is happy with the numbers left in midfield.

"I am happy we have got enough in there," he added.

"We have got Sean Williams, Callum Gittings, Lucas Dawson, Michael Monaghan, Josh Wilson who can play in there and Jack Rea to come back.

"We have got more than enough numbers to be able to cope."

Fowler's last appearance for the club was in the 2-1 loss at The Lamb against Tamworth last Saturday, in which he was substituted at half-time.

He was included in the squad for the Stalybridge game, but did not come off the bench.

Fowler, via a statement on Twitter, said: "The time has come I've had to leave Telford mutually.

"Myself and Rob (Smith) had a conversation and felt the same on the football side of things.

"I need to play games and be happy on and off (the pitch), which wasn't the case.

"Rob and Larry (Chambers, assistant) are good men off it and I wish them all the best with the season."