Rangers braced for player exodus

Stafford manager Steve Bull expects departed midfielder Carl Palmer to be the first of many heading for the door at Marston Road as the player exodus escalates.

Palmer, one of Rangers' main performers this term, has signed for Rushall Olympic, with defender Bobby Wilson also set to leave.

In fact, the entire first-team squad are free to go, after measures were introduced to halve their wages in the wake of a financial crisis at the club.

Anybody could feasibly be the next to go, with marquee striker signing Louis Briscoe probably on the way out - without ever penning a contract at Marston Road.

Even Bully's management team of assistant manager Chris Brindley and first-team coach Darren Read could be leaving.

Make no mistake about it, this is hard as it gets for the manager.

He said: "The players are all transfer listed and their names have been circulated. Carl Palmer has already gone to Rushall and he was player of the season for me so far. There is a lot of interest in Bobby Wilson as well.

"As far as Louis Briscoe goes, he hasn't signed for us yet. He has signed forms to play for us, but he hasn't signed a contract. So there is every chance he could go.

"Nick Amos, Danny Alcock, Stuart Pierpoint, Jake Moult could also leave. Seven players who will have no problem finding a club."

Bully is shielding the players from most of the flak at the moment and they will not link up again until Thursday's training session.

He said: "The players will only be training once a week until it is sorted. I cannot expect any more of them at the moment. There is also the risk that Chris and Darren may be leaving as well.

"They have told me they will give me a couple of weeks, but not being paid is going to hurt them as well. Hopefully we can resolve it, but I can say that about a few situations."

"I am thick skinned and I won't be walking out on this football club. I have already been asked that question by the club and lets be clear, I am staying as manager."

Rangers chairman John Downing has promised the fans there will be a second statement from the club this week and the Stafford faithful will want answers.

He said: "The initial statement is all we are prepared to say at this point in time, but rest assured we will be issuing a second statement to clarify exactly what is going on.

"We expect to have that ready by the end of the week."

Club secretary Mike Hughes will likely be charged with preparing the statement and he puts the case foward to why this crisis is happening.

He said: "We will be cutting the whole expenditure at the club, not just the players wages. The club has to cut costs to live within it's income.

"We have not been doing very well at home, so gates are falling. We were knocked out of the FA Cup and FA Trophy at the first hurdles, so there has been no income from those either.

"For the last three months, club directors have been putting in the money to meet expenses. Something has to give somewhere."