EXCLUSIVE: Gavin Cowan to be named AFC Telford boss
AFC Telford United are expected to appoint first-team coach Gavin Cowan as their new boss today.
The 36-year-old former Shrewsbury Town and Bucks defender emerged as the chosen candidate to succeed Rob Edwards, who left the club last week.
The New Bucks Head club will officially unveil their new manager at 3pm on Friday.
It will be Hannover-born Cowan’s first management job. He has served both Rob Smith and Edwards as coach over the last couple of years.
Cowan is believed to have seen off competition from around 15 candidates. The Bucks hierarchy, including chairman Andy Pryce, worked thoroughly throughout the week in assessing applications.
He played for AFC Telford between 2008 and 2010 before a brief return in 2016. He also featured for Nuneaton Borough and Town under both guises, as well 24 appearances for Salop between 2005 and 2007.
Cowan owns Crossbar Coaching, a youth football coaching business.
Other candidates included former Boston bosses Dennis Greene and Adam Murray. Ex-TNS and Hartlepool chief Craig Harrison was keen on the job but not interviewed.
It has also emerged that experienced Leamington boss Paul Holleran was sounded out by Telford. The Brakes chief said: “The scenario is, there was an approach by Telford for my services which I was flattered by.
“I declined due to the fact I have not finished the job here.”
Other unsuccessful candidates were Neil Kitching and John Psaras. Former Bucks interim boss Psaras tweeted: “Disappointed not to get the Telford job but that’s football. Dwayne Samuels and Darryl Knights would have been my first signings.
"Hope the new manager has a look at them.”
Telford were keen to move swiftly to appoint and Cowan will have a number of weeks to put plans in place for pre-season.
The non-contract playing staff will be assessed by the new manager who will then go about building a squad capable of achieving more than another scrap for National League North survival.
Ellis Deeney and Amari Morgan-Smith are two Bucks players who are contracted at the New Bucks Head beyond this summer.
Edwards held talks with Telford chiefs about the club becoming full-time but departed the club last week. He led the Bucks to a 14th-placed finish last season.
