Fresh recruitment drive will be key at AFC Telford

Last August the Bucks appeared to have assembled one of the most talented playing squads in the club's short history.

But just over eight months later the side had been relegated from the Blue Square Bet Premier following an abject season which featured a 30-game winless run in the league.

Talk of problems within the dressing room also emerged in December last year and the club stated its intent to improve player recruitment in its recent pledge to supporters which was launched earlier this month.

Once a new permanent manager is appointed the club is expected to make significant changes to its squad for the next campaign.

The Bucks had one of the smallest playing budgets in the Blue Square Bet Premier this season and Topping admitted that even in the next tier down they are unlikely to be the biggest spenders.

But he believes that whoever the next manager is, their ability to attract the right players will be of greater importance than having the biggest budget.

He said: "It's difficult to say how the club's budget for next season will compare with other teams in the non-league's second tier because we have been out of it for a few years. We do get to know the budgets once we are in there.

"We probably won't be the highest payers but we certainly won't be the lowest payers.

"We will be competitive and to be honest for the sake of a bit of money here and there, it is not about how much it is, it is about how well the manager can get the best out of his players and identify the players that can do a job for us on the pitch.

"Without a doubt getting that right is going to go a long way towards us having a much more successful season."