AFC TELFORD United are prepared to make Worcester City skipper Chris Smith their club record signing in a bid to take him to the New Bucks Head.

United chairman Lee Carter faxed over a take-it-or-leave-it offer for the 26-year-old central defender today and now they are awaiting a response from City chairman Dave Boddy.

Worcester's Blue Square North rivals splashed out £5,000 for former Tamworth striker Lee Moore in December 2006, but Carter says the deal for the ex-Leeds United trainee will exceed that.

"If we succeed with our bid then Chris will eventually become our club's record signing," the Bucks chairman said.

"We have made what we feel is a very good offer for him and it is a substantial increase from our initial bid.

"We will pay a large cash sum up front and there will be add-ons depending on appearances."

The two chairmen met yesterday in a prior arranged meeting, which was planned before Telford made a bid for Smith, where Carter made a verbal second offer for the central defender.

Last week, the Shropshire club made an offer of £1,500 for the St George's Lane captain which was quickly rejected by Boddy and City boss Richard Dryden described it as "derisory".

"During the meeting on Monday I made Dave a verbal offer for Chris and he said that he did not want it in writing," Carter said.

"But come Tuesday morning we were getting mixed messages about it so we followed up the verbal offer in writing."

Carter is hopeful, should he get the chance to speak to a player Dryden describes as the "best in the league", that he will be able to persuade Smith to join Telford.

But the Bucks supremo says that he will not wait forever.

"The bid we have made is subject to the deal being concluding at 3 o'clock on Friday afternoon," he said. "This is our final bid and if it doesn't happen then we will have to move on.

"I haven't had any indication whether the bid has been successful or not. Dave is obviously going to have to speak to Richard Dryden and then the club's board.

"We know Worcester are keen to keep him as they feel they have a chance of the play-offs, but we want to stay there and we are desperate to sign him."

City chairman Boddy was unavailable for comment at time of publication.