AFC Telford can be dark horses in Skrill Premeir

Part-time Telford, who won promotion back to the non-league's top tier by winning the Skrill North in April, will be pitting their wits against full-time opponents with far bigger playing budgets in the forthcoming campaign.

And Hedge, who was snapped up by Telford boss Liam Watson last month, is fully aware that survival in the division will be the priority. But the former Grimsby Town stopper points to little-fancied Halifax and Braintree, who came fifth and sixth in the division last season, as an example of what can be achieved against the non-league big boys.

He said: "There is no real expectation but I'm hopeful we can be dark horses. We want to try and copy the example of Braintree or Halifax from last year. First and foremost we have to reach the 50 points mark.

"For any club coming up from the Conference North there is not a lot of expectation to do much."

"Clubs like ours when they come into this league are hoping to be dark horses and that is what we want to do."

Hedge also insists that the Bucks will be entering the new campaign with the wind in their sails following last season's glorious promotion, which marked the first title win by the current club and its predecessors in 62 years.

And he said: "I feel this is a good time to be joining Telford. They are a club who have some momentum from last year and have a good, strong squad with some good players.

"They have a very good manager who I have worked with before. Everything seems to be going in the right direction.

"The facilities are a lot better than a lot of established clubs in the Conference Premier can offer, that is not in question. You just need to look at the ground and it speaks for itself.

"Everything suggests the club is moving forward and they are looking to build the platform from there."