Rangers sign Football League player
Stafford Rangers have landed Football League midfielder Ross Davidson on a month's loan from Port Vale ahead of the season opener at Hyde.
The 19-year-old will come straight into the middle of the park for his debut in Saturday's Blue Square Premier 2009/10 kick-off.
Davidson comes with some pedigree, after 26 appearances in the league with his one and only club, after making his debut in April 2008 at Swindon.
Now he will join up with Jake Moult, who played with him in the youth-team at Vale, in the Rangers midfield on the opening day.
Brindley has also completely not given hope of bringing in a central defender before Saturday, an area he has pinpointed for improvement for some weeks.
The manager can at least welcome back the experienced Nick Amos, who is available for selection again after work commitments.
But the Davidson capture is done and dusted for the boss.
He said: "Ross is a young lad who can come in and do a job for us. He is only a teenager but he has a lot of experience in the league with Port Vale, which shows the sort of standard he is capable of performing at.
"He is a good player with plenty to offer to us."
Brindley is also being forced to play the waiting game on goalkeeper Lee Evans, who is struggling with swelling to his foot which forced him off in the final pre-season friendly against Hednesford at Marston Road last Saturday.
A Monday scan confirmed there was no break, with the summer signing from Chasetown adding that the would do anything in his power to be fit for the opening day.
If his battle is ultimately unsuccessful, his place could go to young understudy Danny Allen - who Brindley added "did very well" replacing Evans against the Pitmen - or trial goalkeeper Tom Harrison could be drafted back in to play.
But the manager is working under a plan which sees his first-choice recover and take his place between the sticks at Ewen Fields.
He said: "We are still waiting on Lee and his condition has improved as the week has wore on. So far we are working under the provison that he hopefully will be fit, and we will cross that bridge when we come to it otherwise.
"Obviously we will know more after tonight's training session."
