Glimmer of hope for Rangers

Stafford Rangers fans must be wondering what the New Year will hold for their club.

The Marston Road outfit will round off 2007 in the very place they have battled so valiantly to avoid for the last 18 months – the Blue Square Premier relegation zone.

The odds are stacked heavily against them surviving for a third season in non-League's top flight, but it is not yet a foregone conclusion.

Caretaker bosses Neil Grayson and Kevin Street have certainly been finding out over the past week just what a mammoth task they have taken on, even if it turns out to be a temporary arrangement.

There was little Christmas cheer for the duo and the club as they bowed out of the Setanta Shield, having taken York to extra-time, and then crashed 3-0 at home to local rivals Burton on Boxing Day.

But it wasn't just the results: Chris Flynn got his marching orders for violent conduct against the Brewers that incurred an automatic three-match ban which is extended to four because Flynn was already on five yellow cards.

That was quickly followed by Barnsley recalling defender Luke Potter at the end of his month's loan period.

Street and Grayson had hoped to borrow him for another month, just long enough for regular Fred Murray to recover from his knee injury.

With just 15 fully-fit professionals to work with over the next four games, the caretakers have absolutely no room for manoeuvre.

And the opening of the transfer window on Tuesday may not bring them much joy.

Street said: "We have to put a team out, but we know there is not a pot of gold to go out and buy players. We have to be sensible.

"I see this as an opportunity for us to give players on the fringe of the squad a chance.

"One of the most positive things that has come out of the last few weeks has been Ross Draper, who has been superb in the centre of midfield.

"He wasn't getting many opportunities and we wouldn't have found that out if he hadn't been playing. Even in situations like this, some good can come out of it."

Street also pointed to the performances of Jemiah Richards.

He added: "We know things need to be improved, but we knew that anyway and I believe we can go on to better things."

Grayson believes the Rangers fans are backing their efforts to turn around the team's results.

"If something goes wrong I can't hear too many moaning. They are trying to get behind us, which is good for the team.

"If players know they can try something positive and not get booed if it doesn't come off, that will encourage them. At the moment we need the crowd to be our 12th man.

"We just need to get something out of games when we're playing well."

Street added: "We have turned the performances around – now we need to turn the results around and it has to be sooner rather than later. I think we have it in us."