Sinton urges AFC Telford to dig in for fight

Boss Andy Sinton has primed AFC Telford United for a battle for survival, insisting: "We're in our own mini-league of 10 teams."

The Bucks went into this afternoon's festive showdown with Wrexham at the New Bucks Head having won just one of their last 13 games.

That has left them sitting in 18th place in the Blue Square Bet Premier, just three points above the relegation zone.

"We're probably in our own minor league of 10 teams out of the 24 and we just have to try and finish as high up that as we can," said Sinton.

"People might not like to hear me say that, but that is reality.

"It's a tough league," he added. "I was speaking to a couple of managers from teams near the top of the league and they were saying it has taken them three or four years to develop the mentality and the streetwiseness that they have got now.

"It doesn't happen overnight."

Sinton points to the examples of Gateshead and Southport – teams who, like Telford, have come up from the Blue Square Bet North – as evidence of what can be achieved if the tricky first year at the top level can be negotiated.

Gateshead, managed by Ian Bogie, only survived on goal difference in their first season after promotion but are now challenging for the play-off places.

Southport finished fourth bottom last season only to get a reprieve when Rushden & Diamonds went bust – and boss Liam Watson now has them sitting in the top five.

"I've spoken to both Liam and Ian in the past week about various things and I've been able to pick their brains," added Sinton.

"They are prime examples of what we are up against, they've come up from the same league as us and they really struggled at first.

"Southport got a reprieve last year even though they finished in a relegation position but they are wiser now, have brought in better players and they have reaped the rewards."