Kevin Wilkin’s planning for our return to the National League North is well advanced and we will be able to start to announce signings this week. Whilst it is an exciting time of new beginnings, it is inevitably a time where some things come to an end.
Regaining a place at Step 2 means saying goodbye to four players who helped make that return possible.
Ellis Myles was one of Kevin’s first summer signings in 2023 and has made around seventy-five appearances for the club since then, Ellis has played a very important role on the field. He has also been a hugely popular figure with supporters, a very visible and approachable figure who engaged brilliantly with fans
With Kevin unable to give Ellis any certainty that he would be a regular starter, and with several other factors, such as the distance from his Leicestershire home and additional family responsibilities with the recent arrival of a second child, Ellis and Kevin agreed mutually to end his Bucks tenure on the high of a promotion.
Steffan Jones is also saying goodbye to us. Steffan departs after two seasons with the Bucks, the second of which has been “stop-start”, in Kevin’s words, with injury limiting his participation.
Ellis Brown moves on from the club, having tantalised supporters with his ability, but not quite achieving the consistency that would have helped him establish a regular place in the team. As another young man seeking to make progress in the game, Kevin felt that Ellis finding a club that could give him more regular opportunities was the best option for all parties.
Byron Moore will also depart the club following our promotion, but does so with our thanks for a contribution of more than one hundred appearances and some crucial goals. Byron joined the Bucks as a free agent in February 2022 and has experienced both highs and lows with us in his three years at the club, helping us to regain our place at Step 2 following relegation.
All four members of the quartet will leave us as promotion winners, having created many great memories, as players and, just as importantly, as people.
Huge thanks to all four, and we wish them every success in the future.
