Shropshire Star

Rob Smith will take top half for AFC Telford

AFC Telford United boss Rob Smith would be delighted with a top-half finish next season – despite some bookies making them fifth favourites to win the league.

Published

The Bucks were 18th in National League North last season and title odds of 11-1 offered by Betway left Smith somewhat surprised.

He has managed to add nine new names to his squad over a busy summer, including strikers Tom Peers and Danny Reynolds, and expects his side to kick on.

But he's refusing to get carried away, saying: "Someone told me we're fifth or sixth favourites to win the league.

"That's a bit extreme to be going from relegation candidates to winning promotion.

"If you offered me the chance of finishing in the top half of the table, I'd take it now – but if everything clicks and we work hard, you never know.

"It's a ridiculously hard league – I've never known anything like it."

Smith has managed to do plenty of business this summer, but he's been shocked by some of the negotiations behind closed doors.

He said: "I wish I was a player again, because the wages compared to when I played are ridiculous.

"You're getting average players demanding stupid money, but we are where we are."

Meanwhile, Paul McCone will feel like a new signing when he returns to the Telford team.

The centre-back has now completed his first two sessions of training since rupturing his cruciate ligament last November.

When asked how he found training, McCone said: "Tiring, I haven't done a lot since last November and Tuesday was first time I had really run.

"It was a bit of an eye-opener. I feel fit in myself but my legs are obviously a bit weak, so they seem to be going like jelly."

The 24-year-old hopes to be back playing in September or October.

He admitted: "Thursday was the first time I kicked a ball, and I was a bit dubious to start with.

"It's hard to get your head around it, I haven't played many games in the last couple of years. But as soon as you start doing something, you start to build your confidence."

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.