AFC Telford midfielder Jack Rea enjoying 'professional approach'

The industrious midfielder, 25, is readying up for his third full season with the Bucks, starting at York City tomorrow – under a new management team and with plenty of fresh team-mates.

Having first joined the club in January 2015, he has worked under three different Telford managers – Steve Kittrick, Rob Smith and new boss Rob Edwards.

On how ex-Wolves man Edwards compares to his previous bosses, Rea said: “I have worked under a lot of managers and they all have different qualities and other ways of going about things.

“The new manager has come in and everything he has done has been to a very high standard.

“He leaves no stone unturned – on and off the pitch. In training, he goes over things in a lot of detail.

“Then, we are sometimes doing training at (Wolves’) Compton (training complex) and then sitting down and having a meal together afterwards, rather than grabbing something on the way home.

“It is a very professional approach, and with the lads we have in the squad I think that suits us down to the ground.”

While boss Edwards is a newcomer to National league North, Rea is well versed in the rigours of the division.

A former Telford skipper, he has highlighted the importance of transferring messages from the training ground into games – and having good game management.

“Rob, (assistant boss) Sean Parrish and (coach) Gavin Cowan are working together well,” said Rea.

“I think that it is exciting. Obviously, it is quite a new squad but I think we are getting to know each other quite nicely and gelling.

“There is still a bit of time needed to fully gel, it is a work in progress, but we have been working hard and everybody knows what their jobs are.

“We need to make sure we take all of that into the games now.”

A lot of big players from last season such as Luca Havern, Ben Bailey and Lee Hughes have all gone this summer, while the likes of former Newtown skipper Shane Sutton, ex-Bolton Wanders winger Elliot Newby and experienced striker Matthew Barnes-Homer have come in.

On how the new-look squad has mixed, Rea said: “There’s a few lads who knew of each other, but there is no cliques or anything like that.

“Everybody is mixing with different people all the time and there has been good banter and I think that will only get stronger.

“We are all mixing well and getting to know each other.”

Away at York, who are looking to bounce back after consecutive relegations, Telford are certainly in for a tough test.

Rea insists they are well prepared for the game, though, and revealed thy are staying in a hotel in the city tonight to ensure they are well rested and avoid a long coach journey a few hours before the game.

“We are staying over the night before, doing it properly,” he added.

“We have a gameplan as well, we know what we need to do.

“We are not just going there and sitting back though, just because it’s York. We are looking to play our football and we are going there with positive intentions.”