Boss' battle to keep squad together

Nearly all of the Rangers playing staff are out of contract now the season has ended, in fact only a few of the first-team were under contract to begin with.

Prolific 20-goal striker David McNiven and skipper Wayne Daniel were thought to be the two big earners on the books, but the manager has not given up hope that he can cling onto the pair.

Both stayed with the club despite having their wages slashed in half after financial cuts in December, suggesting that they could reach a compromise - at the right price.

The likes of goalkeeper Tim Sandercombe, Liam Murray and Bobby Wilson have all been operating without a contract, so will want to know if they will be kept on as well.

But Brindley cannot work on a retained list until the club decide on a provisional budget for the season ahead, so all concerned will have to wait for a little while yet.

That will not stop the Marston Road boss planning in his own mind, though.

He said: "We have all finished now and the players won't be back until July. I hope I can keep the majority of them, if we can add a couple to that then we will be OK in this league next season.

"But this is what happens, you spend all summer talking to players. They will sit tight for a few weeks, see what their options are and weigh up what is best for themselves.

"People are people and players are players, it's part of the course."