Captain Wellecomme leaves Rangers

Stafford Rangers have lost striker Nick Wellecomme after Blue Square North rivals Corby flexed their financial muscle to entice the captain away from Marston Road.

The Steelmen beat another league rival in Hinckley to his signature, who had held a long-standing interest in the player.

But even they can not compete with the resources available to Corby as they have found to their cost before this summer, losing three of their own players to the Rockingham Triangle including star winger Andy Hall, who is rumoured to have been enticed away for a £650 a week one-year contract.

Hinckley have one of the better budgets in the Blue Square North to boot, leaving Rangers and manager Chris Brindley with next to no hope of persuading their skipper to stay.

Wellecomme's future had been in doubt ever since a a spat with a section of his own fans in a home game against Vauxhall Motors in April, leading to a walk out which saw him miss a trip to Solihull Moors two days later.

But the 25-year-old leaves Marston Road as the club's longest serving player, having signed under former boss Steve Bull in March 2008.

And it was his all-action displays in a Rangers shirt that persuaded Corby manager Graham Drury to make his move.

He said: "Nick is a player I've admired from day one, as he's a real handful to any side and we were no exception last season.

"Many of my defenders came off after the games against Stafford and commented on what a handful Nick was.

"We fought of a lot of competition from other clubs to get him and he's just what we're looking for.

"He's a big tall target man, he's strong and he gets goals."