Old boss back at start of new AFC Telford era

Liam Watson, who led the Bucks to the National League North title in the 2013/14 campaign, is bringing his Southport side to town.

A key player from that glorious Telford term, Mike Phenix, is set to be up top for the Sandgrounders as well.

Watson should receive a warm welcome from the home fans before kick-off due to the success under him, which, in fact, Telford have not gone close to experiencing since.

After he left, the Bucks dropped out of the National League and spent the following three seasons scrapping at the wrong end of the table.

But Gavin Cowan – making his competitive bow as a manager – is absolutely determined to bring the good times back.

The early signs have been pretty encouraging too – beating Wrexham and holding their own against Aston Villa and Shrewsbury Town over pre-season.

Having a wealth of non-league experience, both as a player and a coach, Cowan has recognised the need for more know-how.

Among those who have been snapped up are 31-year-old left-back Steph Morley, 30-year-old centre-half Theo Streete, 30-year-old winger Darryl Knights and 29-year-old midfielder James McQuilkin.

So often during the Rob Edwards reign, Telford failed to see games through. Hopefully those additions will help rectify that. It is not just veterans of the division who have come in, though.

The Bucks have a potentially potent strike partnership on their hands in Daniel Udoh and Andre Brown.

Winger Adam Dawson has looked lively too while the likes of Shane Sutton, Ross White and Ellis Deeney are still around, meaning it has not just been a case of ripping it up and starting from scratch.

Cowan, naturally, is pleased to have got pre-season out of the way and now be able to focus on what really matters, even though they have a testing start.

“Look at our first month, our first seven games, they’re all tough games,” he said.

“The key is not to get too excited or too down about what happens early on.

“The first game, Southport are coming here and it will be difficult, we know that. Liam Watson is in charge of them and any team he’s got in this league will be a good side.

“We respect them and we are all preparing for them in the right way, and I am sure they feel the same about us as we are a good side too.”

A big positive for Cowan is none of his Telford players have picked up significant injuries in the friendlies over the past few weeks.

Dawson picked up a slight knock in training earlier this week but it is not as bad as first feared and he should be in the squad, while Morley appears to be over a problem which kept him out a few of the warm-up games.

A definite negative, though, is that they will be without stopper Dom Smith for this clash.

The former Shrewsbury man is suspended for three games after a straight red card at Spennymoor Town, which was the second last game of last campaign, in April.

He played the final match of the term at Boston United as bans do not come into effect until seven days after the dismissal, so he will miss Southport, the trip to Kidderminster Harriers on Tuesday and the journey to Guiseley which is a week tomorrow.

Likely to be at the heart of defence in his place, alongside skipper Sutton, is former Brackley Town man Streete.

The main formation which has served the Bucks well under Cowan so far is a narrow 4-4-2, with Knights and McQuilkin in midfield looking to find speedy duo Udoh and Brown with through balls, which is not expected to change.

Interest in the club seems to be on the up again. Let’s see if Cowan and Co can capitalise on that and get off to a great start.