Rangers confident of keeping stars

Stafford Rangers are confident that deals can be struck to bring the core of their current squad back to Marston Road for next season.

The players have operated on a non-contract basis for the last 12 months, and are free to go now the campaign has ended.

Most have or soon will be off on their summer holidays and will review their options upon their return, but not all will be kept on as boss Chris Brindley juggles his squad to bring in fresh faces to the club.

Having finished the season with three loan players in the team, decisions need to be made on fan favourite Craig McAughtrie, Ross Davidson and Danny Glover - now all free agents - while former Rangers captain Wayne Daniel has expressed an interest in a return after leaving Worcester.

Plus, successful seasons for the likes of Player of the Year Tom Thorley, goalkeeper Lee Evans and top scoring captain Nick Wellecomme could well attract attention from other clubs.

But assistant boss Darren Read is confident of keeping the team together, after being encouraged by the outcome of meetings with the squad before they broke up.

The Rangers No 2 also reckons that the budget to put together the line up for 2010/11 will be roughly the same as it was last summer.

He said: ""I spoke to the manager last week briefly and fingers crossed, if the players are true to their word, we should have a good nucleus of the squad returning for next season. With one or two additions, we will looking to push on.

"It has not been confirmed to us as yet but we are expecting the budget to be the same as last summer, no more or no less."