Jack Rea calling for fast start from AFC Telford

The Bucks won just one of their first 12 National League North games this campaign, scoring four times and taking only four points to lie rooted to the bottom of the table.

Rea is one of the few players who survived the cull of players following the sacking of Steve Kittrick just four matches into the season.

And the midfielder believes Telford need to have a much better start come August.

"At the start of the season you play 10 games inside five weeks," said Rea.

"If you can start that off well then it stands you in great stead, so hopefully we'll have a good start next season."

Rea believes manager Rob Smith has plenty of characters in his squad now and the nucleus of a good team at this level.

"If you look through the squad, there's a lot of big characters that pull people together – particularly the Scouse lads – and we've got the likes of Curtis (Tilt), Camps (Darren Campion) and Monty (James Montgomery) who have helped me along the way," he said.

Like several of his team-mates, Rea reckons Telford can challenge for the play-offs next season if they keep the core of the side together and add a few signings.

"Definitely," he said. "Obviously there's a couple that aren't here at the moment getting paid.

"That frees up a bit of the budget for next season. If we can keep the core of the team, bring a couple in and start how we finished, then we've got a great chance."

Rea ended the season as captain and along with the characters he has mentioned, believes he has leadership qualities.

"I've been there from the start and it's been nice to captain the team," he said.

"When we've not been going well I like to think I've got quite a level head on my shoulders and can pull people along."

Rea admits he probably wouldn't be staying at the Bucks Head if the club had been relegated.

"If we were going down it wasn't looking great for me," added the midfielder.

"But with staying up it gives me a much brighter prospect of staying and enjoying my time next year."

Out of contract like the rest of the squad apart from Dave Hibbert, Rea admits he hasn't really thought about his future yet.

"To be honest I've been concentrating on getting over the line," he said.

"The gaffer's not spoke to me yet, and I don't know if he's spoken to the other lads.

"But I'm sure over the coming weeks, when he finds out what kind of budget he's got himself, he can speak to people and work out what's to come."