SOME managers like to use the summer to tinker with their squad, some aren’t shy of an overhaul. Others like to give their dressing room a metaphorical lick of paint while you’ll even find a few who are happy with what they’ve got.
Each boss to his own, and AFC Telford’s Steve Kittrick is rarely worried by what people think of his close-season business.
The Bucks have not so much reconditioned their entire playing personnel over the past few months, they have totally cleared the decks.
Kittrick last Thursday signed his 20th new player of the summer with just three remaining following relegation into the National League North.
But fair’s fair, they only have 19 of those left. One, Tom Thorley, walked out after claiming his 35-minute commute to Telford from Walsall was, quote, “impacting on his lifestyle”.
Kittrick explained: “It was all very bizarre, really very strange. We met four times and he agreed to sign for us, he’s a good midfielder and we did the deal.
Unhappy
“Then last week he asked us to cancel his contract as he wasn’t getting home in enough time! He’s a school teacher, and a nice enough lad but goodness me, Telford hasn’t moved, it’s still 25 miles from where he lives!
“I travel two hours from Barnsley to get here then home again. We don’t want an unhappy player, I think he’s now gone back to Hednesford.”
Thorley’s not the only one to leave the New Bucks Head this summer. In fact only popular Sean Clancy, midfielder Mike Grogan and James Montgomery – signed by Kittrick at the tail end of last term – remain.
The manager may not even be done yet. Adding midfielder Greg Wilkinson last week to take his new signings to 20, there may be room for more.
He added: “We’ll see how we start and go from there. We’ve got a very young team, our oldest player is 28 – we’ve looked alright so far but with all the changes it was always going to be a little disjointed.
“The league is going to be as tough as it’s ever been and after last year we need to get some smiles back on faces.
“When I came here the players looked like they were expecting to get beat. I still feel that if I came in a month earlier we may well have stayed up but you can’t turn back the clock.
“We’re now building for a better future. It will be demanding but it’s a fresh start.”
