Journalism graduate Ian Holmes hopes his goalscoring exploits at new club AFC Telford United mean he will be making the headlines instead of writing them.

Holmes, 22, has joined the Bucks on loan for the rest of the season, having not yet managed to hold down a regular place at parent club Mansfield Town.

It is a temporary return to the non-League game for striker Holmes, who joined the Stags last summer after scoring 34 goals for Matlock in the UniBond League.

He was set to make his debut in a Telford shirt today, in the Blue Square North clash with Barrow at the New Bucks Head.

“It was deadline day on Thursday and my agent had been speaking to a couple of Conference clubs that were interested,” Holmes revealed.

“But things were not going through as smoothly as expected so I texted Larry Chambers as I’d been in touch with him for a couple of years.

“I just thought I’d see if he wanted anyone on loan and I thought it was unlikely, so I was delighted they wanted me.

“I know how well they’ve been doing. They’ve just had a bit of a rocky patch at the moment and they hope I can help out.”

Holmes had been working part-time in a bar after completing his degree, and had been applying for jobs in PR when he got the call to join Mansfield.

He will continue to train daily with the League Two strugglers while on loan at Telford, as well as linking up with the Bucks for their twice-weekly sessions.

The Sheffield-based ace met his new team-mates for the first time on Thursday night at a team meal and was instantly impressed with the unity of the squad.

“It was a really nice night and the lads seem really close. I had an idea who a few of them were from playing against them last season.

“I was quite surprised how young the squad is, but there’s a couple of more experienced players in there and that always seems to benefit the team.

“I’m just on loan until the end of the season and I don’t know what will happen after that, so I’m just concentrating on getting a few goals.”

By Chris Hudson