Defender Gavin Cowan today parted company with AFC Telford United – but boss Rob smith has been quick to sign a replacement.

The 28-year-old centre-back has left the Blue Square North club in a move widely expected after rumours about his future began to circulate over the weekend.

And highly-rated Worcester skipper Tom Kemp, who turns 23 on Saturday, has been brought in to fill the void – signing a contract to the end of next season.

In a further move, winger Danny Edwards has also gone back to Halesowen to start a second month on loan with the Zamaretto League side.

Boss Rob Smith revealed: “We’ve sat down with Lee (Carter, the club chairman) and gone through everything from the players to the finances.

“We thank Gavin for his service in the last year and a half, and wish him well. My understanding is that he has other offers on the table.

“We didn’t release him until he had something in the pipeline and I think he’ll join a new club very shortly.”

Kemp’s arrival comes following talks with Worcester boss Richard Dryden, and Smith said he had beaten a host of other clubs to the player’s signature.

The 6ft 4ins centre-back was a part of the Kettering squad promoted to the Blue Square Premier in 2008 and has only been allowed to leave Worcester as part of desperate cost-cutting measures.

“He’s a young prospect in the same mould as Shane Killock, and I think he’s got a bright future,” added Smith.

“I spoke to Richard Dryden and I know there was a hell of a lot of interest, but we got in there first and Telford is a club he wants to play for.

“He’s tall and very athletic. I like to have a big, commanding centre-half in there.”

On Edwards’ loan, Smith added: “He did okay at Halesowen in December, and another month of playing football will do him good.”

l Telford are pessimistic about the chances of Saturday’s game at home to Farsley Celtic going ahead.

Snow ploughs were brought in to clear snow off the pitch today, but it remains frozen solid and chairman Lee Carter said it was “extremely doubtful” that they would get the game on.