Friends in high places for AFC Telford boss
AFC Telford United manager Liam Watson today revealed he could turn to Shrewsbury Town and West Bromwich Albion for loan signings.
Watson has long-standing friendships with new Town boss Micky Mellon and appointed West Brom chief Alan Irvine, named on Saturday.
The Bucks counterpart believes both are "shrewd appointments" and would not hesitate to turn to either if it was to be to the benefit of his squad.
He said: "I have now got great links with the local clubs, Alan Irvine has just got the West Brom job and he's someone I know personally.
"I would link to think that, over the coming months, we might be able to tap him up a bit. I get on great with Micky Mellon, too.
"I think he will go on to do a fantastic job at Shrewsbury. For us, the scenario is he knows the Conference Premier as a manager.
"If he was recommending a player who he thought was good enough for us, I would always look at it. He wants his players to do well."
The Telford chief has been bemused by West Brom supporters' reaction to Irvine, who has been sacked by Preston and Sheffield Wednesday.
Watson said: "I have been reading on Twitter fans are not too happy about it, but I think it's the right choice. It's better than another unknown foreigner.
"He has a vast amount of experience at all levels. He's coached with David Moyes, another mate of mine, in the Premier and Champions League.
"He's got sackings on his CV that he doesn't deserve and, if you remember, his Sheffield Wednesday side played my Southport team in the FA Cup.
"It was live on ITV and he was very respectful towards us. He's a genuine football man."
Watson and Mellon battled each other for promotion from Conference North in 2009-10, when Southport pipped Fleetwood Town to the league title.
The Telford manager said: "It was probably him coming along and getting Fleetwood going that put the fire back in my belly, at a time when I needed it.
"I have that to thank him for. Don't get me wrong, we had our feuds over the Southport-Fleetwood rivalry, but we walked away with a lot of respect for each other.
"I like to think we are both winners and he's a shrewd appointment. He's done remarkably well and deserves another opportunity to manage in the Football League."
