AFC Telford season preview: Bucks look well equipped

Although it is hard to predict how the Bucks will fare this time around in National League North, you would like to think the squad Gavin Cowan (inset) has assembled – impressively, given the tight budget – is good enough to be around mid-table.

Actually, it is not beyond the realms to believe they could squeeze into the play-offs as you cannot really rule anyone out, with the top seven qualifying.

A youthful Telford struggled to deal with the hustle and bustle of the division last season.

Old boss Rob Edwards tinkered with the team too much and the side never really got going as they were too bothered about playing pleasing-on-the-eye football, when often the key to success at this level is being robust and direct.

From their pre-season showings, beating Wrexham and holding their own against Aston Villa and Shrewsbury Town, Cowan seems to have recognised that.

Setting up his charges in an old-school 4-4-2 formation, he is out to make sure the Bucks are hard to break down but can play, at the right times.

The squad is a fair bit different from last campaign. The ones remaining from the end of last term are Shane Sutton, Jon Royle, Ellis Deeney, Ross White, Amari Morgan-Smith, Henry Cowans and Dom Smith.

Going over the newcomers, perhaps the most impressive over pre-season has been striker Daniel Udoh.

The former Crewe Alexandra youngster has netted five times over the past few weeks and, along with fellow newcomer and ex-Crewe man Andre Brown, looks to have the pace and guile to threaten many defences.

Among what, so far, has been a pretty narrow midfield four is James McQuilkin, who has arrived having turned down fresh terms at league rivals Kidderminster Harriers.

Known by some as the ‘non-League Luka Modric’, down to his flowing locks and eye for a pass, the 29-year-old particularly shone in the 3-1 friendly win over Wrexham.

Having the cutting-edge that Telford so desperately lacked under Edwards, he set up two goals for Udoh with clever through-balls.

He is not just a provider of goals either – he got the goal as the Bucks wrapped up their run of friendlies with a 1-0 win at Aberystwyth Town.

Also in midfield is Darryl Knights, who has come in from Tamworth along with left-back Steph Morley.

Both are players who have excelled at this level before but are desperate to get going again after suffering relegation with the Lambs.

The man between the sticks is Sheridan Martinez, who is desperate to make the most of the opportunity following a spell last season in which he did not play a competitive minute, while Theo Streete brings valuable know-how to the backline.

All in all, Telford are better equipped this time around. A lot of fans appear to be back on side and the key for Cowan and his players is capitalising on that – to bring back the good times and get the New Bucks Head bouncing again.