Ian Sharps turns down AFC Telford offer
AFC Telford United have been dealt a blow after defender Ian Sharps turned down the chance to stay at the New Bucks Head.
The 34-year-old has verbally accepted an offer to play from an un-named National Conference side next season, after a move to become a coach with a League One club fell through.
Sharps becomes the second player this week to decide his future lies elsewhere after it initially looked like he was going to stay, with John Disney rejoining Hednesford.
The former Tranmere and Rotherham stopper combined a coaching and playing role in the final weeks of the season at Telford, on loan from Burton Albion.
But the lure of playing full-time has led to a change of heart in Sharps's case.
He said: "I'm looking to sign for a club by Friday and I have agreed a deal with one club.
"It's a Conference team and I've also had a sniff from a League Two club but at the moment, I'm happy to go to the Conference.
"The idea was to go coaching full-time a League One club but that's fallen through so I'm looking to play full-time.
"As Telford aren't a full-time club, they can't offer me that and I can't coach there full-time either.
"I haven't got a million years left in my body as a player so I want to play as high as I can for as long as I can and I will have opportunities to coach as well."
Baschurch-based Sharps, who captained Shrewsbury Town to promotion to League One in 2012, insisted there are no hard feelings against Telford.
He said: "It's nothing against the club or the manager, but I've got a family to feed. I really enjoyed my time at Telford and I've got total respect for everyone at the club.
"Two weeks ago it looked like I was going to sign to stay, but circumstances have changed. It's not a slight on Telford – they offered me a decent deal."
