Manager Rob Smith will have to watch from the stands as AFC Telford attempt to seal a second successive promotion.The Bucks have failed in their attempts to get Smith’s six-game touchline ban overturned, after chairman Lee Carter saw the appeal dismissed at Soho Square yesterday.

Telford were today waiting for clarification over whether the ban comes into effect immediately or in 14 days time.

But, either way, it means that Smith will not be on the touchline for his team’s play-off campaign if, as expected, they seal a top five finish in Blue Square North.

While clearly frustrated, both Carter and Smith reluctant to comment on the decision, instead focussing on Saturday’s testing trip to Stalybridge where Telford could seal a play-off campaign.

“The appeal has been dismissed, the six-game ban has been upheld and I can’t really comment on a lot else because I don’t want to be going back to Soho Square ever again,” he said.

The charge against Smith dates back to last November when he was sent to the stands for abusing a linesman in the home clash against Kettering – even though club captain Steve Jagielka admitted he had been been the guilty party.

“We always knew we were going to be up against it going down there, despite the manager being adamant he didn’t say anything, Steve Jagielka admitting he did say it and there being discrepancies in the reports from the referee and linesman,” he added.

“It was David against Goliath and David got absolutely trounced this time.

“But we haven’t got time to kick the cat or anything like that – we’ve just got to get on with it and we are totally focussed on Saturday’s game.”

It’s Smith second six-game ban of the season after he was forced to watch Telford’s opening Blue Square North encounters from the stands in August.

By James Garrison