Gavin Cowan’s been talent spotting for AFC Telford

The Bucks have staged three trial fixtures, against opposition sides fronted by agents and one clash against a British Universities XI. They have one more fixture at the New Bucks Head next week.

Trialists, many from divisions below whose seasons have been cancelled and who Telford have courted for some time, have also been invited along and have also featured for the Bucks, with the idea for Cowan to run the rule over them.

With financial implications of the pandemic taking its toll, the Bucks boss has revealed how AFC Telford will alter their approach for next season – in scouring the leagues below for hungry young talent who can step up and impress themselves on the club.

“It’s gone really well, it’s been an opportunity to get in some players who have been making some noises around the Midlands and what not, some young players,” Cowan said.

“They have been exercises to try to have a look at people. We’ve played three games and we have one more next week.

“There’s been a couple who have been on our radar for a long time, but with our recruitment process changing somewhat, in terms of the clientele, they are a bit more on our radar.

“With what’s happened we wanted to be pro-active, when the season was null and void we didn’t want to shutdown, we wanted to use every minute to build.

“It’s brilliant to hold games, it keeps our current crop together in certain ways but we can also look at certain lads that ordinarily we wouldn’t have the chance to do so.”

Cowan revealed that no more than a handful of current, existing Bucks players have been on the pitch at any one time, and the manager intends to draw ‘a line in the sand’ on the 2020/21 season next week and address the futures of the existing squad members.