Rob Smith: AFC Telford won’t get a 20-goal striker
Rob Smith has warned that AFC Telford must re-think their strategy to finding the net after losing Lee Hughes.
The boss admitted that the Bucks would not be able to compete in the market for a recognised striker that can score 20 goals a season.
Telford scored just 38 goals in the National League North last season, the lowest in the division, fewer than bottom side Altrincham – who won just four games all term.
“Everybody is looking for a goalscorer and we’re no different,” said Smith, who lost Hughes to Worcester City, where he became joint-boss.
“We’re not going to get a proven striker that can score 20 or 25 goals in a season. We just can’t prize them away or compete.
“It means we’ve got to work out how we’re going to play and other ways that we’re going to score goals.
“We certainly need someone that’s going to put it in the net a lot more than we have in previous seasons.”
Hughes netted four times in 13 outings for the Bucks and 17 in total for the season.
Bucks central midfielders Joe Fitzpatrick, Eddie Jones, Jon Royle, Jack Rea and John-Paul Kissock scored just five goals between them.
Of Telford's forward from the season, former Shrewsbury striker Dave Hibbert – who came to the end of a two-year deal – and Danny Reynolds have departed the New Bucks Head.
Daniel Westwood, signed from lowly Wolverhampton Sporting Community in March, has been invited back to pre-season training to prove his worth.
While Smith and Larry Chambers are yet to reveal the futures on fellow forward Connor McCarthy and Josh Wilson.
