Chris Brindley's urge for Rangers fans

Stafford Rangers manager Chris Brindley has urged supporters to keep the faith and look at the bigger picture as the club plot their moves for next season.

Rangers have already lost three of last season's team in Ashley Wooliscroft, Player of the Year Tom Thorley and captain Nick Wellecomme to rival clubs, while assistant boss Darren Read left for AFC Telford.

But boss Brindley filled the void in his backroom last weekend by bringing in Steve Wynn as his No 2, while defender Craig McAughtrie has signed a one-year contract to return for next season after a successful loan spell from Eastwood.

The manager is continuing to hold fire with his other targets, along with last season's squad, in the hope of putting together a competitive line-up at a reasonable price, with the budget still tight but not expected to be cut.

But compared to last summer the ship is running smoothly at Marston Road, when Rangers had to borrow £50,000 from supporters just to save themselves from potential extinction.

And Brindley, fighting the fires for all of his 19 months in charge, is eager to remind critics of what the club has come through off the field.

He said: "Admittedly, the club at this stage of development in this period of time where it's a sitting duck for people to come and pluck our players.

"But, gradually, we are slowly turning a corner, but it's a long journey. We have saved thousands of pounds in the last couple of years, which has ensured there will still be a Stafford Rangers in the future.

"All I would ask of supporters is to keep the faith, because no side we have put out over these last two years has not been competitive. Come the first game of the season, nothing will change.

"You don't win any points now or in July, it's August onwards that counts."