AFC Telford United today looked set for a sensational return to the Shropshire Senior Cup as the on-off saga took another astonishing twist.

Telford had last week claimed they had been effectively excluded from it for refusing to play the final in April, with their place going to Market Drayton Town instead.

But, at a Shropshire FA Council meeting last night, it is understood that a members’ vote was taken over the prospect of re-instating the Bucks for the traditional final with League Two promotion chasers Shrewsbury Town.

“We’ve had discussions over a number of days now with the Shropshire FA officials,” said Telford chairman Lee Carter today, as he waited to hear the outcome of the vote.

“One of those was that if they insisted the game was on April 27 we would be willing to put a scratch side in made up mainly of young players.

“We also said we would be prepared to play the final on July 7 and then play next season’s tournament in pre-season too.

“I strongly advised the Shropshire FA not to kick Drayton out though,” stressed Carter.

“There’s already been a lot of damage done to the reputation of the competition by the events of the last week, so to exclude Market Drayton now only makes it worse.”

Shropshire FA chiefs were due to issue a fresh statement on the latest twist to the 130-year competition later today after consulting with the clubs involved.

They had originally hoped to play the final at the Greenhous Meadow on April 11 or 27 involving Telford and Shrewsbury.

The Bucks’ refusal to play on those dates because of their Blue Square Bet North play-off push dashed those plans, with talks then beginning on Drayton playing Shrewsbury instead.

The identity of the Senior Cup finalists will have a huge impact on the Shropshire Challenge Cup, where Drayton are due to take on Wem Town on Monday.

By JAMES GARRISON and CHRIS HUDSON