AFC Telford hoping for Zak Lilly to grow out on loan

Boss Gavin Cowan is a big fan of both players and they remain ‘very much’ in his plans.

He feels it is necessary, though, for the pair to get some game time under their belts before being regulars for the Bucks in National League North.

“We’re in talks with a club for Zak and hoping to get that all finalised this week while Jud is going out to Sutton Coldfield for a month,” said Cowan.

“These are players very much in my plans but they just need some game time, that’s all it is. Both of them did well in pre-season.”

Lilly has been converted from a striker to a centre-half by Cowan.

He captained Telford to victory in the Shropshire FA Huddersfield Cup final last month – beating Shawbury United 3-2 – and was in the squad for the Bucks’ recent 1-1 draw against Guiseley.

Ellis, formerly of Market Drayton Town, signed over the summer after an impressive trial spell and is yet to feature competitively for Cowan’s charges.

“We’ll only send them out for a month at a time as we don’t want them out of it for too long,” said Cowan.

“They’ll continue to train with us as well, they’re still a part of it.”

Ellis will be playing in the Southern League Division One Central – two tiers below Telford – for the Royals.

It is understood Lilly, who has previously had loan spells at Rushall Olympic, Leamington and Romulus, will be dropping down a level to get used to playing at the back.

Meanwhile, the Bucks will continue to assess the progress of striker Jason Cowley. He has signed for Telford and Bromsgrove Sporting, where he caught the eye last campaign, under dual-registration.

Sporting play in the same division as Sutton Coldfield and Cowan added: “We’ll send him back out to Bromsgrove, to get him up to speed.

“We’ll assess how he’s doing week to week.

“He did very well there last season and he’s a good lad so we’ll see how he does.

“If he does well, we’ll see if we can get him involved over here with us.”