Bully ready for Simmo's men

Stafford manager Steve Bull comes up against an old friend when Rangers take on League Two side Shrewsbury in their third pre-season friendly tomorrow (3pm).

The Shrews are managed by Paul Simpson, who is expected to bring a strong side to Marston Road to crank the Blue Square North's side preparations up a notch.

Bull and Simpson were teammates at Wolves from 1997-1999, a period at Molineux that the Stafford manager remembers well.

He said: "I remember playing with Simmo well, because he would always shoot instead of passing to me in the box! But in all seriousness, he was a cracking winger with a great goal ratio.

"He had a tough time of it managing Preston, so it is pleasing to see him back in football at Shrewsbury. He will do a great job there I am sure."

There are some parallels between the fledging managerial careers of Bull and Simpson. The latter has experience of the Conference National from one season with Carlisle in 2004/05, whereas Bull took over a practically doomed Rangers side on their way out of the top tier of non-league in February.

Simpson won back-to-back promotions starting that season and how Bull would welcome a repeat of that.

He said: "Simmo has done very well and I am pleased for him. Now it is for me to have my own success with Stafford. I believe we are going in the right direction."

With the Shrews firmly entrenched in the professional game, Bull has also not ruled out calling on Simpson for players should the situation arise.

He said: "I will be speaking to him about that. I want the right kind of player for the club and if he can help me with that, I will be more than happy.

"It would give his fringe and young players vital first-team experience. I would be happy to take them on if they were worth it."

Stafford will be without defender Wayne Daniel, who is at a wedding, and striker Nick Wellecome, who is absent through work committments. Defender Nick Amos is a slight doubt with a calf strain.