Neill Byrne pledges future to AFC Telford
Defender Neill Byrne today pledged his future to AFC Telford United and is now in line to be captain – as the Bucks missed out on a centre-half signing.
Byrne has decided to commit to Telford and will come off the transfer list, after receiving one offer from a full-time club that was less money than he's on.
The Irish centre-back is now set to report for the start of pre-season training on Saturday, when he is in line to take the armband left by the departed Ian Sharps.
Manager Steve Kittrick said: "As of our last conversation we had, he's coming back for pre-season training with us. Sometimes people think the grass is greener.
"But the fact a full-time Conference National club offered him less money than he's on here gave him a guide to our commitment as a club who pay him good money on a two-year deal.
"I think it's made him realise he's on good money here at a good club.
"It's a massive boost because he's one of our better players and I think he'll push on.
"He understands what I want and there's every opportunity for him to be our captain next season, but that's down to him.
"He can go on and become better and better. He's grown in terms of his influence in the changing room and learned a lot about himself and his own ability and I think he'll come back a better player.
"He's a mature lad who's quite humble and goes about his business in the right way and is professional."
Meanwhile, Telford have turned their attentions to their second centre-back target after missing out on their first choice over the weekend.
Kittrick said: "The one lad has been offered a really good deal to stay in the Conference National so I'm disappointed, but it's understandable.
"There's a younger option I'm speaking to who's a good player but he's been offered terms with a Conference club and has been playing at that level for the last two years."
