Comment: An appointment for AFC Telford United fans to get excited about

The announcement that Kevin Wilkin is taking over from Paul Carden has been met, as expected, by delight from the Bucks faithful, who see Wilkin as their chance to climb back up the league and compete.

Ever since Carden was rumoured to be on thin ice, Wilkin has been linked with the job – in part due to the fact that Brackley Town surprisingly got rid of him despite sitting in the top 10 of National League North.

After observing the last two Bucks games, Wilkin feels he can drag them out of the mire they have been in for some time.

When you look back at managers in the Bucks' recent history, it is hard to see many who offer up the experience and knowhow of getting results and achieving success at this level in the same way that Wilkin does.

As good a person as Carden is, and as well as he had done in the league below with Warrington Town, he wasn't a big name and wasn't first choice last year.

He ultimately wasn't able to deliver as well, despite Bucks fans wanting him to succeed.

Gavin Cowan rode on the crest of a wave in his full season in charge of the club, with much of that owing to the goals of Daniel Udoh and loan signings such as Ryan Barnett from Shrewsbury Town.

That tenure at the club didn't end well – partly due to the Covid-19 pandemic and a suspect final transfer window.

Prior to that, Rob Edwards was a big name but had zero experience at the level and came with the club's link to Wolves.

He did well in spells, but it was a low down finish that did little to inspire the Bucks fans.

So, in their recent history, they haven't really brought in a manager who knows the level and has proven what they can do at the level.

But Wilkin has.

Two finishes in the play-off places in National League North and an FA Trophy success at Brackley prove that – despite their smaller stature in the National League compared to a lot of their rivals.

He also reached the play-offs at previous club Nuneaton – this time though winning the final to reach the top tier of non-league football.

That put him on the radar of the biggest club he has managed – Wrexham.

There he won some admirers as he reached the third round of the FA Cup and the final of the FA Trophy – losing to North Ferriby United – but it was not enough to save from the sack at a place where the pressure is high.

At Telford, is there pressure on to succeed and battle for titles and trophies? At the moment you have to say no.

The immediate challenge is getting them out of the bottom four and getting them firing – because the Bucks do have some talent at their disposal.

In truth, they have for a while, but without anyone with the experience at National League North level to really steer the ship.

Now they have – and fans will be hoping Wilkin certainly get them moving into calmer waters before maybe reproducing his Brackley glory days at the New Bucks Head.