Dave Hibbert deal a 'coup' for AFC Telford

The 29-year-old former Shrewsbury Town ace has signed a two-year deal at the New Bucks Head and will combine playing with a coaching role at Stoke City.

Hibbert has left Tamworth, where he netted eight times in 35 games last season as the Lambs finished seventh in Conference North.

But he is best known for his three-year spell at the Greenhous Meadow.

Twice Town's top scorer in League Two, the Stafford-born forward hit 12 goals in 2007-08 and 15 in 2009-10.

He was also named Player of the Season after helping Shrewsbury stay in the league following his arrival from Preston for £75,000 in 2007.

Kittrick believes his prolonged chase for the former Port Vale, Preston and Peterborough targetman will pay rich dividends.

He said: "It's a massive coup for us. He's a general on the field – he'll take our instructions to the other lads and will get at people while the game's going on.

"We're a young team and we need some older heads around them. He's not a prolific goalscorer but he brings people into the game and we've brought him in for all of his experience.

"He's just the type we need around the club and in the dressing room."

Hibbert was forced to quit the full-time game in April 2013 after just seven matches with Peterborough, who he joined in summer 2010.

He suffered a serious knee injury which kept him out for two-and-a-half years.

But he returned to play semi-professionally with Nuneaton Town in 2013-14, netting four times in 28 games, before joining Tamworth a year ago.

And Kittrick insists Hibbert is fit enough to have a major impact in non-league, adding: "He's got his desire and hunger back."