AFC Telford land one – and Hutch is staying

The Bucks have also extended the loan of FC Halifax centre-back Graham Hutchison for the rest of the season.

Former Walsall forward Bowerman, 24, has agreed a one-month loan deal and the paperwork has been completed so he is available for today's visit of Bradford Park Avenue.

Bowerman adds to boss Rob Smith's attacking options after the departure of Richard Peniket back to FC Halifax and an ankle injury to Ryan Rowe, which left Dave Hibbert and newcomer John Cofie as the only strikers.

Bowerman joined Alty last summer and scored in three successive league games in August. An ever-present, he has made 30 appearances this season, starting 15 and scoring four goals.

But he has come off the bench in the last four games as boss Lee Sinnott changed things to drag themselves away from the National League Premier drop zone.

Sedgley-based Bowerman came through the ranks at the Saddlers and made 50 appearances in League One, scoring nine times, before being released in 2013.

From there he joined Accrington Stanley in League Two and also played on loan at Stourbridge in 2014.

The signing comes hot on the heels of the extension of Hutchison's stay.

The former Worcester City centre-half is in his third loan spell with the Bucks, having made six appearances from September before he injured a hamstring and returned to The Shay in November.

Re-joining Telford in December, he made a further five appearances until his latest stint ended after last Saturday's 1-1 draw at Gainsborough Trinity.

Smith wants another centre-back along with Hutchison to help cover the suspension of Curtis Tilt next week against AFC Fylde but no one was due to be signed for today's game.

Meanwhile, Hibbert says the 'R-word' is banned at the club – despite their perilous position.

The former Shrewsbury striker said: "I don't even want to talk about it because I'm trying to keep all the lads positive because we want to be out of this situation. It's horrible to even think about.

"We've got enough quality to get out of it – but we've got to stay together and hopefully that can inspire us and get us out of this mess."

Hibbert also insisted the club's financial position isn't affecting the players.

"No. We're here to do a job and we're not doing our jobs well enough," he said. "We're not letting anything like that affect us."