Shropshire Star

Manager Rob Smith today rallied the AFC Telford United faithful by declaring: “I can’t emphasise how important the supporters are to us now.”

Successive defeats over the Easter weekend have led to growing fears of a late wobble as the Bucks attempt to seal a play-off place in Blue Square North.

Smith and assistant manager Larry Chambers will re-group their squad at training tonight, but also insist the fans have a major part to play in the run-in - starting with the home clash against Barrow on Saturday.

“I can’t emphasise how important the fans are to us now,” said Smith.”We have said all season that they have been absolutely brilliant - but we have got two home games left now and we know if we win those two, we will be in the play-offs.

“I understand the frustration they are feeling - probably more than they think I do.

“It gets to us as more than anyone, but we have lost two football matches and if we win one on Saturday, we are within touching distance of the play-offs.

“We will tell the players tonight that we are in a mini-league of five teams going for four play-off places and, with five games to go, we are top of that league.

“We have to stay positive.”

Smith and Chambers had made attempts to strengthen the squad with a loan signing prior to tonight’s transfer deadline.

But the boss is not prepared to “chase the dream” for success.

“We want to get to the play-offs more than anyone, but we are not chasing the dream to do it like other clubs are,” he added.

“We’ve spent the last two days on the phone and the amount of money that is being talked about is unbelievable.

“There are Conference players available but they are on thousands - and I mean thousands - and that’s out of our league.”

Telford’s reserve game away at Redditch, scheduled for tonight, will now be played on Monday.