Rangers may lose Dean Bennett race

Stafford Rangers manager Chris Brindley admits he would love to sign Dean Bennett - but fears his club may be priced out of a move for the midfielder.

Bennett is a free agent after his release from Kidderminster Harriers this summer and started for Rangers in last Saturday's 1-0 Cannock Chase cup win against Hednesford.

The 32-year-old played the game after being invited to Marston Road by Brindley, who is making no secret of his desire to bring a player of Bennett's calibre to Marston Road.

Should the manager be able to pull it off, the team would land a player of 14 years experience in the full-time game, serving Wrexham and Chester in between seven years with Harriers, having started out as a young professional at Albion.

But Rangers are not the only ones in the hunt for his services, with the player also having trained at Halesowen and AFC Telford in recent weeks.

More off-field turmoil on the horizon for Halesowen and their standing as the lowest placed club of the three in the Zamaretto League appears to put paid to their chances, but Telford have the ambition and the financial muscle to gazump either club.

However, Brindley plans to bend the player's ear further by inviting him to training tonight with a view to getting another full game under his belt in Saturday's second leg at Hednesford, with Telford boss Andy Sinton away in Portugal until tomorrow.

But the Rangers boss admits they may not be at the front of the queue.

He said: "I would love to sign Dean, he's a super player and a good lad, but he's sought after by clubs who have got a lot more money than what we have available.

"A couple of years ago maybe this club could have afforded it, whether we can now is another thing.

"We will have to wait and see what happens with him."