Telford chairman Lee Carter is still backing Bucks manager Rob Smith

AFC Telford United chairman Lee Carter insists that the club's aim is still to reach the Blue Square North play-offs despite a disappointing season so far.

Ahead of next Saturday's scheduled home game with Farsley Celtic, the Bucks are ninth in Blue Square North, four points shy of the play-off zone.

But Carter insists: "There will definitely be no white flag in terms of play-off ambitions for this season.

"The team are very focused on giving it everything they've got."

The Bucks chairman added: "The will to achieve is still very much alive and kicking in us all."

Following the club's public statement prior to Christmas in the wake of an erroneous report of their departure on a commercial radio station, Carter also offered renewed backing for manager Rob Smith and his assistant Larry Chambers.

"The board were very keen to state their support for the manager," added Carter.

There is likely to be some very limited and focused shuffling of the pack in January Telford United chairman Lee Carter

"He has been extremely successful.

"He deserves our full support and will get every last ounce of it.

"We have talked to the management at length about future recruitment.

"There is likely to be some very limited and focused shuffling of the pack in January.

"This will be designed not only to maintain our push for the play-offs, but also aimed at ensuring we continue to build upon the good core of younger players in our ranks."

Telford came from back in the pack with a late season run to make the Blue Square North play-offs last April, only to buckle at the final hurdle against Gateshead.

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