Rangers duo given mission
Stafford Rangers caretaker duo Neil Grayson and Kevin Street have been given a mission by the club's chiefs: Help us live to fight another day.
Stafford Rangers caretaker duo Neil Grayson and Kevin Street have been given a mission by the club's chiefs: Help us live to fight another day.
The pair have been entrusted with the team's well-being in the wake of Phil Robinson's dramatic departure last week.
And although there has been no shortage of applicants to replace him even before the post has been advertised, including some well know football names, chairman Jon Downing insists the caretakers are the right men for the job at the moment.
Grayson, the 43 year old veteran striker, and Street, schooled as a player by Dario Gradi at Crewe before joining Rangers and becoming a trainee priest, will be given at least several weeks to show what they can do.
Said Downing this week: "I'm always an optimist, but I am also a realist and I am well aware of the situation we are in.
"The best thing for the club is to finish at least fifth from bottom, we'll retain our place in the Blue Square Premier and live to fight another day.
"Neil and Kevin know that we have to set our goals to finish top of the mini-league of five clubs that's developing at the bottom of the division.
"Then we'll have a chance to sit down next year, look at where we went wrong and improve things.
"Phil was a smashing bloke and we respected his professionalism and loyalty and we were sad to see him go.
"The injuries we've had this season read like a bad luck script and the financial situation we've had was only temporary, caused by the lack of home fixtures.
"It was like trying to run a shop when you have to close the shop and I would like to thank the supporters for their understanding - it's been a difficult year so far and we are doing our best for the club.
"Kevin and Neil have done an excellent job taking it on at short notice. We went to watch them training on Tuesday and the spirit among the players is very very good.
"We're very lucky to have them with us - they are both very experienced and well respected by all the players," said Downing.
"Neil is really fired up to get some wins under our belts and Kevin has some new ideas to work with.
"It's early days, so let's see what happens.We'll probably go two-three weeks and if it's not looking good we'll review it, but if the lads work hard we may decide to extend it."
After this weekend's toughie at Aldershot, the caretakers will have the pressure taken off them a little with next Saturday's FA Trophy tie at home to Ossett Town, two divisions below them in the pyramid.
The following weekend, Rangers have been drawn at home to York City in the fourth round of the Setanta Shield.
