Dave Hibbert good to go for AFC Telford

The 29-year-old had a number of options, having scored eight goals in 35 games for Tamworth last year.

Then came the offer of a return to Shropshire, where he enjoyed the best years of his professional career with Shrewsbury Town.

It coupled with the chance to lead the Bucks' promotion charge back to non-league's top flight, provided the biggest pull.

He said: "I had a lot of options, which is pleasing. Last season was the first one back for me in many ways, so to have so many offers was nice.

"I guess it's proof I must have done something right! I got offered a lot more money to go elsewhere, but it was never going to be about that for me.

"At the end of the day, I wanted to be at the biggest club I could and Telford are without question the biggest club in this league."

Thrown into the mix was Kittrick, the manager looking to mastermind an instant return to the, now re-branded, National League Premier.

In truth, the former Guiseley boss stood little to no chance of preventing the relegation which seemed inevitable from the early weeks of last season.

By the time he was appointed in December, the Bucks already had a mountain to climb though improved performances in the final weeks of the campaign gave hope for the future.

A summer overhaul has not been without hiccups, but Hibbert is impressed with what he's seen.

He said: "The manager played a huge role in me signing here. He knows what he wants to do and has been successful in this league before – he knows what it's all about.

"He's a really driven guy and you only need to look at what he's done before. This is a fresh start for everyone."

For Hibbert, it is also another chance to prove the goal-scoring instincts he showed at Shrewsbury are still to be feared.

It comes after a difficult five years following his departure from Town, where he was twice top scorer in a three-year spell.

His career seemed destined for far more until a serious knee injury, suffered just 12 games after his 2010 move to Peterborough, forced him to quit the full-time game.

A return for Nuneaton in 2013 and then last season at Tamworth showed he is far from finished at the semi-professional level.

Hibbert said: "When you have been through what I've been through, you just can't wait to get out there. The part-time game seems to suit me, I can deal with it.

"There was a good two-and-a-half years where I couldn't do anything, but things went well at Tamworth last year and I was named player of the year."

The Bucks face one of their longest trips of the season tomorrow when they head to Lowestoft Town.

Their aim for the season is obvious but Hibbert, who Kittrick thinks will also provide leadership on the pitch, knows there is plenty of hard work ahead.

He said: "Of course we want to get promoted but it is never a given. We are going to need to work extremely hard."