Graham Hutchison set to snub AFC Telford

Central defender Bailey, 25, spent almost a decade in the first-team at Hednesford Town, with many of those appearances as captain under Smith.

He becomes Telford second new signing of the close season, following Dan Preston, who has returned to the New Bucks Head from Tamworth.

Smith said: "What you see is what you get with Ben. Nobody has to tell me anything about Ben Bailey, because he was my captain for four years and I know all about him.

"He is whole-hearted, from the same mould as Dwayne Samuels, in that respect."

Carpenter Bailey, who works in Telford and Stafford, admitted it was like being 'back home' when he sat down and discussed a deal with Smith.

He said: "I spoke with other clubs that called but having Rob and Larry (Chambers) appealed.

"The fan base and the ground were two other big factors, to have 1,800 people roaring us on week in, week out.

"It was like being back home straight away. It was a good talk about expectations and they know everything they need to know about me."

After struggling to a National League North relegation under three different managers last season with the Pitmen, the centre-half is looking forward to getting back to basics.

He added: "They (Rob and Larry) know what buttons to press and how to get everything they can out of players. And they know this level of football inside out.

"Next season I expect us to be fighting for the play-offs or even more at Telford."

Hutchison, who spent three separate loan spells at Telford from Halifax last season, was offered a deal by the Bucks but has decided to join their National North rivals.

The boss added: "We offered Hutch a deal but he has decided on Worcester who offered him something that we couldn't come close to."