AFC Telford hoping for talks to sign Chris Lynch

Watson is currently in the market for another centre-half and has been told the Sandgrounders stopper would be available on a free transfer.

The Bucks chief is now waiting on permission from the club to speak to Lynch, 22, and he is hopeful that a deal could be done this week.

Watson, who took over the managerial reins at Telford in early May, has already brought in one ex-Southport centre-half, Simon Grand, to help bolster the team's back line.

And Lynch's arrival would provide competition for places with him as well as Dan Preston, who was handed a contract extension early into the close season.

Watson said: "They have said he is available so we are waiting for permission to speak to him.

"He would be a third centre-half and for a young lad he has got quite a bit of experience.

"He can play either on the right-hand side or the left-hand side of a centre-back paring very comfortably and he can also play right-back.

"He is very aggressive in the air and he is a winner, but he's also a good character as well. He will dig in for you.

"On a rainy day at Bradford Park Avenue he would be a good sort to have around."

Lynch, a former Burnley player, has worked with Watson before, having joined the current Telford boss' previous club Southport last summer from Stalybridge Celtic.

Watson is also hoping to make further additions to his squad in the coming weeks as he continues to revamp the team ahead of the first day of pre-season training, which will be on July 2.

And he is looking to bring in another striker to further boost his attacking options.

Watson is remaining tight-lipped on the identity of his current target but he said that again he is hopeful that a deal may be reached this week.

Telford have already brought in two forwards recently, in Tony Gray from Chester and Adam Farrell from FC Fylde.

Another addition would again add competition for places within a team that will be targetting promotion back to the top flight of non-league this season.