Telford are wasting no time putting their plans in place

And after guiding the club through a summer of huge changes last year, the Telford boss is pleased to be heading into pre-season on more stable footing.

“It feels like we’ve got a bit of a head start; we know these players and the levels that they can reach, and it’s our job to improve those players again,” Wilkin said.

“I’m pretty relentless with my expectations when it comes to training; I’m there all the time so I expect them to be, and when you’re working hard together regularly everything builds quicker and good performances on the pitch follow.

“That starts in pre-season, and we’ve got two fantastic guys in Mark (Noon) and Rhys (Morris) who have so much knowledge and data on the lads.

“That data on the levels of fitness that the lads reached last season can now be used throughout this season to compare to, so that gives us a bit of a benchmark.

“When I was at Brackley we pretty much had seven years of data on players there. Yes players came and went, but with a lot of the players there that stayed around we had a good idea of where they were at.

“I do think that’s a really important thing that we’re carrying into this campaign.”

The Bucks have managed to retain the core of the squad that finished comfortably in second place of the Southern Central Premier last season and missed out on promotion in a heartbreaking play-off final defeat to Leamington.

Reliable goalkeeper Brandon Hall and the steady full-back pairing of Ellis Myles and Nathan Fox ensure Telford’s backline retains its steel, while all-action midfielder Jordan Piggott and poacher Matty Stenson will offer quality at the top end of the pitch.

However, the two most eye-catching pieces of business pulled off by the Bucks this summer undoubtedly go to the retention of multi-award winning defender Orrin Pendley and midfield magician Remi Walker.

Wilkin commented: “I’m pleased with all of the renewals.

“I love players who can be consistent against whatever opposition that they’re up against, and I love being able to see a progression in their games since joining.”

“Both Remi and Orrin, when you look at them as athletes, have really developed through the course of last season and the lion’s share of that is down to their focus and their attention to detail.

“They always make sure they’re applying themselves in the right way, and both of their attendances to training were excellent.

“The pair of them had fair distances to travel, but on those cold, dark nights rarely can I think of a time where they weren’t there.

“That for me gives them a big leg up, and they weren’t the only players that worked to that level last year.”