AFC Telford United under pressure, admits MD Lee Carter

Carter was AFC Telford United chairman between 2004 and 2013

AFC Telford United managing director Lee Carter says they are all feeling the pressure at the Bucks Head as they bid to avoid a second relegation to the Conference North in three seasons.

Liam Watson's Bucks go into Tuesday night's Conference home game with Welling United nine points adrift of safety at the season's halfway stage.

"I'm under pressure," Carter told BBC Shropshire. "Liam's under pressure.

"No-one sleeps comfortably at night knowing we're bottom of the league."

Aside from their FA Cup run, which ended with their injury-time defeat at Bristol City on Sunday, the Bucks' season has been another battle against relegation from the Conference.

They have won just three of their 23 matches, conceding 51 goals at an average of more than two per game.

In contrast to two seasons ago, when they enjoyed a fine start to the season under Andy Sinton before falling disastrously away after a record-breaking 30-match winless run between October and April, Watson's side have been bottom of the pile all season long.

Sinton was sacked the day the transfer window closed two years ago, with Telford appointing three more managers - Mark Cooper, Graham Hyde and John Psaras - before Watson took over once the club's relegation was confirmed at the end of the season.

But, this time round, Watson has already been told the club must be better prepared for January and they have to have a list of potential signings by the time the window reopens.

"We need to change it and the sooner the better," said Carter. "We won't be going to the end of January this time.

"It's about Liam identifying his targets very early and very quickly."