Gavin Cowan urges Telford players to stick around

The Bucks enjoyed some fantastic moments during Cowan’s debut managerial campaign, making the FA Trophy semi-finals and taking the National League North play-off race to the final day.

They fell just short of extending the term in the end, but only on goal difference, so Cowan wants to retain the base and strengthen with a few new faces – not rip things up and start again as Telford have done in the last few summers.

“It’s not to make any excuses for not achieving the play-offs this year, but it wasn’t really our goal at the start of the season,” he said. “We measured that as the season went on.

“We’ve had a solid base, and that plays a part. Maybe this is the start of a journey for us now.

“I want that to continue. I’ll have conversations with them, and hopefully they’ll jump on board with it.”

One player already tied down is striker Marcus Dinanga, who signed an 18-month deal upon his return to the Bucks in January.

But everyone else’s futures are not concrete yet.

Skipper Shane Sutton has said he wants to carry on at the New Bucks Head, and Cowan says several others have told him the same too. It is just a case of getting the contracts signed.

“Ultimately, you have to look at the core, and I think a lot of these lads deserve another crack at it,” added Cowan. “They have worked so hard, and deserve another stab at it.

“I’ll speak to them all in the coming weeks

.”