Rangers closing in on three players

Stafford Rangers boss Chris Brindley is hoping to have three new players joining his existing squad for the start of pre-season training two weeks today.

The manager is remaining tight-lipped on the identity of his targets until the deals are done, but is well down the line with signing the trio for next season.

They would join a playing staff already boasting defender Craig McAughtrie and striker Ben Mills on one-year deals, while verbal agreements have been made with four more to return for the coming campaign.

Goalkeeper Lee Evans, Andre Francis, Jon Patrick and Grant Goodhead have told the manager they are staying, while non-contract winger Levi Reid will only leave if an offer comes along to play full-time football.

All in all it's looking good for Rangers, despite losing three first-team regulars to other clubs, compared to last summer when the club had also lost three but had none signed up for the season ahead.

And Brindley admits the squad is shaping up more nicely than some may have expected.

He said: "I am hoping to have three or four new players coming in for the start of pre-season training, but until they have signed for us there is nothing to announce with them.

"We are in a better position than we were this time last year, when we were really struggling for a side."

Brindley welcomes his players back for pre-season training on July 1, with the new Blue Square North season set to kick off on Saturday August 14.

The manager is looking forward to getting back to work on the training field, with the squad refreshed from their summer break.

He added: "It's always good to come back and the players have had a nice break."