Scope for AFC Telford signings, but summer rebuild 'difficult'

AFC Telford United have scope to make signings, but boss Kevin Wilkin suggested it would not be straightforward.

The Bucks have sunk to the bottom of National League North, just months on from narrowly missing out on the play-offs.

There has been a fair turnover of players since then, however, and Wilkin conceded that rebuild had been tough for the Bucks.

“It's not easy at this stage,” he said. “It was a difficult window for us, wanting to change things around.

“The players that we lose, you lose for a reason, because they're exceptional players that have all gone into full-time clubs or stepped up a level or whatever it might be.

“Finding replacements for them has been difficult. We've had to take a chance on a few there who may be searching a little bit within their careers to get themselves back on track.”

Following Friday’s defeat at Morecambe, supporters expected some changes to the line-up - but Wilkin named an unchanged XI to face Bedford Town on Monday, where they lost 1-0 at the SEAH Stadium.

“Looking at it in the round, and taking the first half against Morecambe on the chin, where we were dreadful, no doubt about it, people have responded in the second period,” he said. “We've done a whole lot better. I'm looking at that with the Hednesford game in mind and one or two of the others and thinking, ‘Look, leave it alone and try and grow that situation’.”

With Jamie Meddows, Jordan Cranston and Charlie Williams all absent due to injury, a lack of real options to change things was also suggested as a potential reason for sticking with the same XI, though Wilkin countered, saying: “Are the options on the bench quite what we needed? Possibly, but (I’m) trying to give people a chance, an opportunity to show what they're all about, and get a little bit of a reaction out of them… Hence the reason I leave it alone.”