Rob Smith: AFC Telford stars can still cement their future at the club

The Bucks, although not mathematically safe, may well have done enough to stay in National League North after a 1-0 victory against Worcester City on Saturday.

That made it back-to-back league wins, putting them on 40 points – nine clear of the drop zone, with five games left to play.

When asked if there is still time for players to force their way into next season’s plans, Smith said: “The option is still there. I’ve said for some of them, Maybe we’re still undecided and there’s five games to go where they can sway things. That’s football and the way things work. I have been planning for the last four weeks, to be honest.”

He added: “We haven’t been good enough, we know that, for Telford. What’s frustrating is that the players have a lot of ability, they really have. Make no mistakes, and you’ll end up winning games of football in this league.

“Whatever the budget and whatever the situation, I don’t think we have been good enough this year.

“Next year is a new year. We will start again and there’s a lot of work for this football club to do, on and off the field.”

Next up for Telford is a trip to Boston United on Saturday. Then, they travel to Stockport County on Good Friday and host Nuneaton Town on Easter Monday before their final two games – away at Darlington, and finally at home against Harrogate Town.

On whether he has a points total for the end of the season in mind, Smith said: “I haven’t got a total in mind. You’re not going to see me taking anything for granted, or the players.

“We want to try and push on, and finish as high as we can.

“If we finish higher than last season then you could say, in some respects, that it’s progress – but I would take some convincing on that.”

Meanwhile, Smith praised two players for their strong showings in Saturday’s triumph against Worcester and added: “I thought Ben Bailey was outstanding and I thought Joe Fitzpatrick ran the show. He was the best midfielder on the pitch.”