Paul McCone: I am staying at AFC Telford

The 25-year-old centre-half met with boss Rob Smith last week and, while a deal is yet to be officially announced by the club, says he is raring to get going for what will be his first full pre-season in four years.

"I met with the gaffer last week, and we're all good for me to stay," said McCone.

"Me and Rob, we know how each other works. The usual thing is he'll let me know when pre-season starts, and I'll be there.

"He phoned me not long after the season finished, and both us were happy and then we met last week.

"It is the first pre-season I will have done in four years because of the injuries I have had and niggles. It will be nice to not be playing catch-up for a change."

Telford have announced eight players so far for next season's squad, including three centre-halves in Ben Bailey, Shane Sutton and Graham Hutchison.

McCone pointed towards the fact that when he came back to the side last term, after a severe knee injury, he had three other centre halves in Bailey, Luca Havern and Dan Preston to compete with and said: "It's all good, there were four of us vying for those centre-half spots last year.

"Competition is healthy, I enjoy it and it gets the best out of everybody involved – it's only a good thing."

McCone, who also played under Smith at Hednesford Town, made 24 appearances for the Bucks last season, scoring once.

He is determined, both personally and as a team, to have a stronger season in National League North, but realises the division is perhaps stronger this time around.

"I have been with Rob for the last four years now, and the last two have been difficult – difficult to play in, and difficult for Rob as the manager," added McCone.

"The squad, it needed to be ripped up and changed and Rob has done that and brought in some good players so far.

"It's definitely going to be a very competitive league so we haven't got much time to gel – we have got to try and hit the ground running."

Meanwhile, John-Paul Kissock, who had a spell on loan at Telford last season, has been released by Ebbsfleet United.