Martin Ondrej believes experience within The Tigers ranks could be a deciding factor in the English Premier League next season.
The 31-year-old concluded negotiations on a return to the Shropshire outfit this week, following last season’s historic double-winning achievement.
Ondrej’s place in Telford’s defence was a telling factor during a year that saw The Tigers dominate both the league and British Challenge Cup.
And with fellow thirty-somethings Jonathan Weaver, Peter Szabo and Jason Silverthorn already signed up, Ondrej is keen to capitalise on that experience.
He said: “The years I spent playing in America and Europe helped me to build a style that can be both physical and skilful. I think I can still be more offensive as well, though.
“That’s something the whole squad has and last season, it was very effective. Combining those skills can be difficult, but we’ve managed to get it right.
“All the guys in the squad have got a fair bit of experience, and next year that will be very important. The fact that we won the league and cup will be crucial in terms of lessons learned.”
The former Detroit Redwings trainee had few hesitations in signing a new deal with The Tigers, following his arrival from Hull last year.
And with GB Assistant coach Tom Watkins at the helm, he is looking forward to another competitive year.
“I feel great in this organisation, so it was a very easy decision to come back,” he added.
“Everything from the club works well and having a great coach in Tom makes such a big difference. The dressing room has a fantastic bunch of guys, so it was a no-brainer.
“We all know that teams like Milton Keynes and Peterborough have made big improvements this summer. The Phantoms in particular will want to prove that the play-offs weren’t just a fluke.
“All those things mean that having a squad full of experience could prove to be a major asset. It will be a fascinating season.”
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