Rob Smith wants AFC Telford squad of no more than 18

The Telford chief is wary of the big-spending being conducted in the close-season, with money-bags sides like Salford flexing their financial power with some eye-popping early deals.

And the Bucks boss, who made Newton captain Shane Sutton his first signing of the summer on Saturday, doesn’t want to pack his squad for the upcoming season, instead opting to set a limit on the numbers involved to keep a more familiar group.

Ex-Wales under-17 and under-23 international Sutton, a tall and stocky defender, joins the club having spent the last nine seasons at Latham Park in the Welsh Premier League

Boss Smith is also willing to turn to youth and Bucks’ attacking prospect Benji Robinson is one that will look to make the breakthrough, while fellow youngsters Dan Frances and Jordan Broome also set to be handed a chance to impress in pre-season.

“We can’t really run with more than 18 to be honest – we can’t be looking at any bigger than that,” said Smith.

“We want 18, to keep everybody involved, and then you can sprinkle in a few youngsters on top of that.

“That’s the aim and what we will be sticking to.

Early favourites for next season’s title Salford landing the likes of experienced defender Carl Piergianni, National League players Danny Livesey and Liam Hogan, while ex-Kidderminster forward Mani Dieseruvwe also checked in.

And Smith warned: “They’re not going to be big, big names that everybody has heard of, but we are taking the time to make sure they are right for us and can improve us.”

With former Football League side York City among the new additions to National League North next season, Smith wants a togetherness and spirit that will help the Bucks combat the strength-in-depth rivals are likely to boast.

“It is going to be pretty brutal the league is,” the boss added. “I think everybody knows how hard it is going to be.

“We are going to need a great team spirit and togetherness in order to succeed.

“The directive me and Larry have had when going into these meetings with potential new players is trying to work out their character.”

The futures of Bucks players Luca Havern, Paul McCone, Jon Royle, Eddie Jones, Jack Rea and Dwayne Samuels are still unclear.

Telford are holding a fans’ forum at the New Bucks Head’s Learning Centre on Wednesday from 8pm.