Wellecomme to stay on as captain

Stafford Rangers top scorer Nick Wellecomme expects to be kept on as captain after a flying start to life with the skipper's armband.

The eight-goal striker has led the side for the last three games after Bobby Wilson announced his departure from the club - and the team have a 100 per cent record under his stewardship.

It's a remarkable turnaround for the talismanic forward, who this time last year was only a month out of prison after serving a jail term for affray.

Wellecomme has got his head down ever since to become an integral part of the team at Marston Road, and is already in his most prolific season yet at the club.

And the 25-year-old has now confirmed that manager Chris Brindley has asked him to skipper the side on a permanent basis.

He said: "As far as I know I will be staying as captain, the manager asked me before the Gainsborough game whether I wanted to lead the team and we have won every game since! It's quite an honour for me to be captain and something I want to keep.

"I always had a vocal role in the team, so it comes natural to me. I am quite good at motivating people and having a quiet little word with them, I love the club and have always wore my heart on my sleeve for the cause, so maybe it suits me."

The all-action striker also revealed his sights were on the captaincy last summer, when Wayne Daniel left the club after seven years at Marston Road, only for Brindley to give Wilson the nod.

An unexpected second chance came when the skipper left to start a new life Down Under with Australian club Stirling Lions, with the manager turning to his top scorer to take up the mantle.

Wellecomme said: "I had joked with the manager in pre-season that I fancied a shot at being captain, I put my name in the hat and Bobby obviously ended getting the armband.

"It was nothing more than a passing comment really, he did mention being vice-captain but I didn't really think anything of it at the time.

"When it came up again and Chris asked me to do it, I was delighted."