No Bank Holiday for AFC Telford

AFC Telford will be pulled in for extra training as the countdown to the promotion play-offs begins, with boss Andy Sinton stressing: "The stakes are high."

The Bucks were today hoping to win their final Blue Square Bet North game at home to Harrogate and seal second place, before a play-off semi-final first leg on Tuesday away to either Nuneaton or Guiseley.

Part-timers Telford usually only train on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and can get by on just one session if they have a midweek match.

But Sinton believes they cannot afford to take time off ahead of the biggest fortnight of the campaign.

"It's what we've done pretty much all season but the stakes are too high now," said Sinton.

"All the players carrying bumps and bruises will be in tomorrow morning and, with it being a Bank Holiday, we can get the lads in on Monday morning too.

"That will just be for a couple of hours and we can walk them through a few things, study one or two things, go through some set plays and team shapes."

Sinton insists the increased workload is essential to give his side the best possible chance of coming through the play-offs and sealing promotion.

"You have to be professional when the stakes are this high," he said. "You can get away with it in November but the players have to be professional now and if we are then hopefully we will get our rewards."