Blog: Something a bit special about Steve

It has been a couple of months since Liam Watson departed, following the FA Trophy game at home to Chester, that came hot on the heels of the disappointing reversal to relegation rivals Welling United the previous Tuesday.

Now you see, I personally had a lot of time for Liam, but towards the end things were becoming increasingly difficult for the man who had guided Telford to our first title in 60+ years. Many of the players he had brought to the club had ability, but something was preventing them showing these talents. Something Liam was unable to put his finger on, in order to address it.

Since his arrival at the football club though, new Bucks' manager Steve Kittrick has given the players the opportunity to prove their worth to him, in games and in training. He's given them the chance to show what they have got – and to an extent why Watson had signed them.

Having given them this opportunity and analyzing their performances, he has clearly stated he wants to bring players into the club that are hungry and want to be part of things here at the football club. Players that want to play for Telford, players that want to play for him. Some of these included players that were already here – others that he would need to go out and recruit!

He has put his arm around players, given a motivating kick up the backside, had a quiet word or fierce rant… and his man management skills so far haven't fallen into doubt, he has imposed a style of play on the players that has started to reap massive rewards.

Who'd have thought before Christmas that a front pairing of Tony Gray and Sam Smith would be flourishing? Who'd have thought Smith would have discovered his shooting boots and have scored six goals in that time? That Tony Gray would have scored his first hat trick for the club and look every inch the fox in the box we had been promised since his signing at the start of the Conference North Championship winning season? Both looking completely reinvigorated under the guidance of Kittrick.

We've had a change in formation, a change in tactics and style – brought in crucial experience, in the form of Danny Ventre and most recently Ian Sharps – and our hopes for staying up are looking increasingly better with every date on the fixture calendar (whether we play or not).

We're looking stronger all over the park – from virtually starting out with one recognized defender on the books, Kittrick was able to shuffle his pack quickly and bring in defensive recruits Ben McLaughlin looking a quality addition at full back – and the news earlier this week that he has signed until the end of the season has been most pleasing and vitally important for our survival hopes for the season.

Also with the addition of Jack Rea and John Disney, the quality of incomings have been more than positive, though it is the way Kittrick has handled some of the departures that is most pleasing. Again concentrating on the fact he wants players that are hungry to play for Telford. Both Ryan Higgins and Kyle Dixon didn't seem to want that once they were here and other offers were put to them. How Kittrick came out of both situations with credit is the impressive part. Also signaling he's not one to mess with, is the way Kittrick has handled the Sean Cooke situation, demonstrating the grip he has, firmly on the rudder and his ability to steer us through choppy waters.

The fact the manager is in control of these situations when the dressing room perhaps isn't entirely his own, fills me with a great sense of optimism for the future. I think the gaffer has the knowledge and wherewithal to keep us in the Vanarama Conference this season and should he achieve that, I firmly believe he has all the attributes to grow, not only the team on the pitch, but the club as a whole.

The Bucks, under Steve Kittrick have got some of their bounce back! And now following the move off the foot of the table (following the 3-3 draw away at Eastleigh) on Saturday – I believe we now have the momentum to reign in those sides around us…

The first of those is the home game on Saturday with Dartford. The game that sees 23rd play 22nd at the New Bucks Head, where the two sides are poles apart in the form table, yet remain separated by a point. Victory for the Bucks will see us leap another place up the table and really begin to crank up the pressure on Alfreton, Southport, Welling and Aldershot, all sides that are within a few wins away.

We've only had one Saturday home league game since 29th November, when we secured a creditable point at home to Grimsby (the 3-4 reverse at the hands of Eastleigh) so Saturday's game represents a great opportunity to get yourself down to the New Bucks Head, see some of the new signings (as well as some of the old ones) and see just how much we have grown in stature over the past couple of months/ and why not judge for yourself. 3pm kick off.

A couple of months in football is a long time – especially without a home game... So make sure you get yourselves along to the game and cheer on the Bucks. You might just be surprised at how far we have come from the last time you were here.