The Rangers vision of Tim Flowers

Tim Flowers believes the best star quality he can bring as the new manager of Stafford Rangers is one that could well rub off on others - a passion for the game.

Rangers sprung a surprise by appointing the former England goalkeeper, who started his career at Wolves, to his first manager's post yesterday.

As recently as May, Flowers was treading the boards in the Premier League - albeit as an assistant boss to Iain Dowie - as the duo unsuccessfully tried to keep Hull in the top-flight.

Six months later and six levels below, the 43-year-old has decided to go it alone in his first serious foray of any kind at non-league level and try to succeed where another former England star, Steve Bull, failed in 2008.

His devotion to the game could well be tested if recent events at Marston Road are anything to go by, with the one-time heavyweights of non-league football fighting relegation battles in the second-tier over the past two seasons.

Flowers can't just throw money at it either, with a playing budget of less than £2,000 a week - probably pocket change during his playing career.

It's some comedown for a man who was once the most expensive goalkeeper in Britain, who will have more eyes on him than your average manager in the Blue Square North.

But Flowers believes that if he can get his players and the whole club to buy into his vision, Marston Road could be home again for everyone.

He said: "If you don't love the game you will get found out very quickly at this level and I want this place to be a vibrant, enjoyable football club again.

"Obviously I want to win games, but I want people to be in a learning environment and enjoy coming to play football here.

"Everyone knows there's no money at the club. The budget is what it is and we will crack on with what we have got.

"The art is punching above your weight, getting in there and showing what you can do - that is what I will be asking from my boys."

Being a down-to-earth sort of character, Flowers knows he has to do more than just turn up to bring the good times back to Rangers.

Becoming his own man as a manager after serving others is one thing, but do it such a spectrum away from anything he has ever encountered is a bold move.

For what Tim Flowers is used to, Rangers may as well be playing on Mars.

But the man himself doesn't see like that, believing that his driving ambitions will not let the culture shock get to him.

From now on at Marston Road, it's Blue Square North club, Premier League approach.

Flowers said: "My ambition is to be the best I can possibly be, whatever level I am working at.

"As long as I can look myself in the mirror and say 'I have done my best,' I will be happy with that.

"When I stand on the sidelines next Saturday, I am chartering into unknown terrority.

"Picking things up minute to minute, day to day and hopefully doing a good job.

"Whatever happens at Stafford Rangers, I know I will have put my heart and soul into it."