Tim Flowers close to calls on squad

Stafford Rangers manager Tim Flowers believes he will know over the next fortnight exactly what further surgery is needed on the playing squad at Marston Road.

The Rangers boss made his first signings late last Friday, bringing in midfielder Liam McDonald from Barwell and borrowing defenders Sebastian Harris and Rod McDonald from Northampton and Oldham respectively.

Oldham's McDonald is the son of former Walsall favourite Rod and the brother of current Saddlers defender Clayton, while Harris is an American defender who has made nine appearances for the Cobblers.

Flowers has tapped into contacts to land the pair on loan, as he coaches the goalkeepers at Northampton part-time and Oldham manager Paul Dickov was a team-mate at Leicester.

But both could be gone in a month, leaving the manager still with one permanent addition to the squad since his appointment three weeks ago.

No-one the Rangers boss has inherited has left either and, with a two-week break before a return to league games, there could be a clearing of the decks to make room in what is a threadbare playing budget.

That puts all of the players in uncertain territory, but Flowers insists he will take his time before making the big decisions.

He said: "We are always on the lookout but finances dictate that is not going to be easy. I just can't go getting players in left, right and centre.

"I have got to have a proper look at what I have got and what I need, then cut our cloth and prioritise accordingly.

"I can't take too long about it, but we will assess where we are over the next few days and I will have to manouvere."

Rangers have been drawn at Blyth Spartans in the third qualifying round of the FA Trophy - for the second season in a row.

Flowers' men will make the arduous 440-mile round trip to Croft Park on November 20.