The lure of Ben Mills' Rangers return

Stafford Rangers striker Ben Mills admits the lure of first-team football back at the club that discovered him was the big pull in his return to Marston Road.

The 20-year-old has committed to come back for next season after negotiating his release from league rivals Alfreton, leaving by mutual consent with a year left on his deal.

The Reds snared him from Marston Road last November, just as he was starting to hit form in his debut season for Rangers with six goals in 17 games.

But it was Brindley who gave him his chance in the Blue Square North, plucking him from two levels below with Leek after a six-month long pursuit.

And it was the Rangers boss who was first back in for him this summer, initially proposing a loan deal, before an agreement was reached for him to return permanently.

Mills just wants to play after long spells on the bench at Alfreton and admits there is work to do before he can call himself a proven striker in the division.

He said: "I am looking forward to getting going, playing again and getting some regular form. I want to get back into the sort of rhythm that was in before I left, I was here for four months last year and I haven't really played since then, so I couldn't say I was an established Blue Square North striker yet.

"Hopefully that is what I can do this season."

Mills leaves Alfreton after rumours of a rift with manager Nicky Law, with Mills reportedly upset at the lack of first-team chances since coming to the Impact Arena.

But the young striker insists there was no row with his former boss.

He said: "I don't regret leaving Rangers, Alfreton are a great club and it was an eye opener for me. It's something to strive for and it's just unfortunate that it didn't work out.

"There was no fall out, I left amicably and everything is fine in that regard."