Simmo backing for Stafford boss

Stafford manager Steve Bull has been given an endorsement that he is on the right path to success with Rangers - by Shrewsbury manager Paul Simpson.

The two locked horns last weekend in Stafford's last pre-season friendly, not counting what was mainly a reserve side put out at Heath Hayes on Monday, with the League Two side 3-0 winners at Marston Road.

Bully takes charge of his next friendly against a Walsall XI at Marston Road tonight (7:45pm), putting the finishing touches together for his first taste of the Blue Square North.

Simpson, a former teammate of Bull at Wolves from 1997-1999, knows what the non-league is about, leading Carlisle into the league from the Conference National in 2005.

Bully takes charge of his first full season as Stafford boss having already tasted relegation from the top tier of non-league football - but if anybody knows what lies ahead for him it is Simmo.

Simpson said: "It is tough at non-league level. You need financial clout behind you to make an impact. You also need the full support of the club and the board or it is nigh on impossible.

"I really hope it works out for Steve. He is a football man in every sense of the word and if anybody can make an impact it is him. But he will need help to get to where he wants to be."

Prior to the Shrewsbury game, Bull did not rule out calling on Simpson and his other friends managing in the professional game for favours if needed. The Shrews boss agrees that is the sort of thing he will need to do.

He said: "When you are managing non-league with limited resources, you have to beg, borrow and steal whatever you can to put a competitive side out on that football pitch.

"But there are lots of things you can do that don't involve money. Looking at Steve, he seems to understand that. A lot of the things he will introduce will cost the club nothing and could make the difference.

"A lot of it comes down to a professional approach. Getting semi-professional players to behave and condition themselves as professional players. Steve appears to be doing that and on the pitch you will notice the difference."