Rangers deserve credit for Brindley

Stafford Rangers boss Chris Brindley believes the club deserve an enormous amount of credit just for staying in the Blue Square North this season.

The manager has operated on a shoestring budget for all of his 17 months in charge, taking the helm after severe financial cuts in the wake of his predecessor Steve Bull.

Rangers have stabilised this season but still can't afford to put players under contract which has made it harder to hold onto their stars, with no fewer than six first-team regulars leaving over the course of the season.

But the team have secured their safety with two games to spare, as opposed to one in a troubled 2008/09, and improved on their home record from last term by beating Gainsborough in their final game as hosts last weekend.

A win - or possibly even a draw - at Workington on Saturday in the Blue Square North curtain call would improve on last season's finish of 18th, and mark progress on resources Brindley believes are "bottom three" for the division.

And the Rangers boss believes his patched-up squad should take pride in what they have done.

He said: "There has been pressure in every game up until last week, with a lot of young players and lads from lower leagues in our squad. It's been difficult for everybody to operate in those conditions, so knowing that we are safe has got to help.

"We are pleased to be still be in the division, it's what we set to do although we would have liked to have been a bit higher in the league. But we have a bottom three budget financially, and people are starting to realise that.

"So, with that in mind, what we have achieved is like a job well done."