Rob Smith: Liam Watson will get Telford up
Former AFC Telford United boss Rob Smith today backed current manager Liam Watson to lead the club to promotion.
Smith brings Skrill Conference North rivals Hednesford Town to Shropshire in the FA Cup second qualifying round on Saturday.
He's Watson's longest-serving predecessor, having bossed the Bucks from February 2006 to the summer of 2010.
Smith watched the Class of 2013 labour to a goalless draw on Tuesday night at home to Worcester City, in his first return to the New Bucks Head since his departure.
The Pitmen boss gets along well with his opposite number and their ongoing friendship was born out of some adversity.
Watson's Burscough won the Northern Premier League title and dumped Telford into the play-offs on the last day of the 2006-07 season at the New Bucks Head, in front of a club-record 5,710 fans.
It was his first title at that level, either side of making Southport Conference North champions on two occasions, and Smith believes a third promotion from the league is coming Watson's way.
Smith said: "Without a doubt, Liam Watson is the man to get AFC Telford promoted, I know he will do it. As soon as the job came up, I knew he was the right choice.
"I know Liam from his time at Burscough, they won the league at our place when we could have if we had beaten them and we ended up in the play-offs.
"I have always admired the way he has done things and we have kept in touch, he's a good friend.
"It's a weird twist of fate that our two teams should meet but it's a great occasion, as it is for any team going to Telford.
"We are going there to enjoy ourselves, our main concentration is on the league so there's no pressure on us."
Smith also ruled himself out of a move for Telford defender Dan Preston but admitted he had spoken with Watson about the player.
The Hednesford chief has taken Tamworth defender Matthew Regan to Keys Park on loan and hopes to keep his temporary capture past the initial time-frame.
Smith said: "Dan was a name that came up in conversation between me and Liam but I have never really been interested in him.
"We have taken a player on loan from Tamworth, Matthew Regan, until the middle of next month and we are hoping for an extension after that.
"There's nothing in the pipeline for Dan."
