Bully warns of gulf in class

Stafford Rangers manager Steve Bull warns that a gulf is forming even at non-league level as he tries to return the club to the Blue Square Premier at the first attempt.

Rangers were one of four clubs relegated from the highest tier of non-league football in 2007/08, along with Altrincham, Farsley Celtic and Droylsden.

This caused untold problems for the league they were joining - with all four clubs obligated to join the Blue Square North because of their geographic position - but the problem eventually resolved itself.

Altrincham were reprieved at the expense of Halifax, who still have no idea where they will be playing season.

But the four relegated clubs share something else in common. Part-time status. In fact, just four clubs who will play in the Blue Square Premier next season are part-timers and two of those, Barrow and Eastbourne, were promoted.

The other two are Histon, who came seventh, and Forest Green, who came eighth.

Such is the gulf starting to form that Kettering Town, who walked away with the league Stafford will play in next term with a divisional record of 97 points, are also a full-time professional outfit.

For Bull, who has had to juggle these problems since arriving as boss in February, it all comes down to resources.

He said: "Like most things, it comes down to money.

"We don't have a benefactor who will pump large amounts of money into the club.

"That itself can cause problems anyway. When the money dries up, clubs can go out of business. Hornchurch are a good example.

"The money that is flying around even at our level at the moment is ridiculous. I have had players coming into me to renew terms for next season and asking for more money after we had been relegated.

"But do you know what the funny thing is? They will probably get what they ask for elsewhere."

Then there is the most obvious problem. Fitness. How are a semi-professional club who train twice a week supposed to keep up with a full-time side?

Bull said: "It did show last season when we were in the Premier. I had players saying to me 'we are just not fit enough' after we had lost again.

"When I first came here, we were unfit. But now we have implemented training three days a week instead of two, we will be a fitter side next season.

"It is hard for the boys juggling a full-time job, especially if it is a physical one, and having the energy needed to train three times a week and play.

"But they are the standards I will be expecting next year without exception."