McAughtrie set for Rangers contract

Stafford Rangers loan star Craig McAughtrie has edged closer to returning to Marston Road for next season after talking to the club over a one-year contract.

The 29-year-old is a free agent after his release from Blue Square North rivals Eastwood last month, and spent the last three months of the campaign on loan with Rangers.

His return to the club was an emotional one, after a previous five-year spell between 2002 and 2007 with over 200 appearances.

Now McAughtrie has confirmed that negotiations have began with manager Chris Brindley this week for him to return on a season-long deal, not always part of the course for Rangers who had most of last season's squad on non-contract forms.

And the big centre-half is hoping to put pen to paper over the last fortnight, before going away on holiday at the end of the month.

He said: "I have spoken to the gaffer and we are not far off sorting something out for next season. I don't think there will be a problem and I am hoping it will be final in the next couple of weeks.

"Chris is having to work with the budget he has got, and he will have to work it differently for certain players, but a contract is something I have always been on and I want to stay that way really.

"If I sign I will have to take a wage cut from what I was previously on, but I am happy to do that to go somewhere I am going to be happy playing football.

"That is more of a priority for me."