Kevin Wilkin's New Year wish for AFC Telford

Ever since taking charge of the Bucks in 2022, Wilkin has expressed his longing for the club to own it’s own training ground, regularly suggesting their current arrangements put a limit on the progress the team can make.

And while still in the early stages of making that dream a reality, Wilkin did explain that the wheels are beginning to be set in motion regarding a new facility.

“It would be nice if (2025) is (the year Telford gets a permanent training ground), but I’m still not entirely sure of the stage that it’s at regarding planning,” the Bucks boss said. “Whether planning has been authorised yet I’m not 100 per cent sure of, but I know there’s an area of land that has been earmarked for a training ground.”

He added: “From my perspective, and for the club to progress, it would make a massive difference.”

Currently Telford bounce around Shropshire on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, training at a number of different facilities.

While Lilleshall National Sports Centre provides top-class facilities, the club does not always have priority access to it, while other places Telford train have their own issues regarding space, accessibility or equipment.

And Wilkin explained why several crucial problems he feels limited by will be rectified when the club have their own permanent home.

“At the moment we’re a little bit nomadic training-wise and therefore I haven’t been able to do the things that I’ve done at other clubs which have developed a culture within my squads much quicker,” the Bucks boss said. “I’d like the opportunity to eat together, spend time together and do all of those little bits and pieces which I think are really important when it comes to pulling a side closer together, and building an understanding and cohesion within the group.”

He added: “I knew this was the situation when I took over the club, and it’s unfortunate we aren’t even further forward with it.

“It would make a massive difference to the club’s progression and appeal, and really a club of this size should have a facility it can call its own.”

Wilkin also confirmed that, currently, the work going on behind the scenes regarding the training ground does not have an impact on his playing budget.

“The progress of the training ground is very much something that’s running in the background and has been for a little while, so it doesn’t impact on my budget and what I’ve got to spend on the squad,” he said. “We’re working within a framework and there is a little bit of flexibility within it, depending on what happens with certain players.”

Telford expect Rhys Hilton to return from his loan at Harborough on Saturday, where he has had limited game time.

And Wilkin admitted that the winger’s return will have some impact on what he can bring into the squad.

“There are players that have been offered to us on loan, but with Jakub (Kruszynski), Harry (Hawkins), Joe (Morris) and Gudge (Alex Gudger) I think there’s only scope for one or two more,” he explained. “That picture is ever moving of course, with the potential of Rhys coming back to us or someone else going out on loan.

“We’ve been in conversations with players that haven’t happened yet, and again there are some players that we’d like to have signed but financially the wages those players have gone for, even to a level below, have been far and away from what we can pay.”