AFC Telford United boss Gavin Cowan reveals he has 'big plans' for pre-season

Cowan is lining up some behind-closed-doors friendly games against ‘high profile clubs’ while devising a summer programme for the players.

It will allow him and assistant Phil Trainer to analyse the Bucks’ strengths and weaknesses as they prepare for the 2018/19 campaign.

Cowan, 36, who was appointed last week, said: “We have big plans for pre-season. Myself and Phil have already devised a pre-season programme for the lads.”

“They will be glad to know that - the ones that have signed.

“Pre-season is already done, the format is already set out, we are just arranging some pre-season games now.

“But I will be sitting down with the chairman and some of the board to decide some of the finer details.

“A lot of them are almost in the bag but we will be finalising details.

“Once that is done it leaves me and Phil just to crack on with our job and do what we said we are going to do.

“There is a lot of things in place in terms of the training regime.”

Cowan will now turn his attention to formulating his squad for next season with the latest development seeing 23-year-old midfielder Jordan Lussey leave the club.

He featured last season under former boss Rob Edwards, making 34 appearances and scoring three goals.

Cowan highlighted the important role he played towards the end of last season.

He said: “Jordan played a vital part in our survival last season and is a player I admire. Unfortunately, his circumstances have changed and that made it very difficult for us to retain his services.

“Jordan has shown true class in our discussions throughout and I wish him all the best moving forward.”

Defenders Paul Bignot, 32, and Bob Harris, 30, will also be absent next season having not been offered new contracts by the club. But skipper Shane Sutton and Ross White have accepted new one-year deals.