Tim Flowers frustrated with players

Stafford Rangers manager Tim Flowers has questioned the commitment of some of his players in the midst of his final assessment of the team at Marston Road.

Rangers are in the middle of a two-week break from games in the Blue Square North, giving Flowers a proper chance to run the rule over all of the squad on the training field.

At least that was the plan - the manager has found himself frustrated with the players who have not turned up for the sessions.

Of course, there are mitigating circumstances, as Rangers are a semi-professional club and most of the players have day jobs outside of football.

Some have to travel from all over the country, while a good few are still carrying knocks from recent games.

But Flowers has warned the stay-away stars that, for whatever reason it is, they are doing themselves no favours if they hope to have a future at Marston Road.

He said: "This is non-league football and it's the irritating side of it, people sometimes miss training for different reasons and I am getting used to that.

"I have got it off my chest at times but it doesn't make it any more palatable and it's an issue for me, because I need my players here.

"Myself and my assistant Matt Elliott sit down and plan things then someone has got a sore throat, somebody's gear box has blown up, somebody can't do this and can't do that.

"But that's life, we will go with what we have got and the players that are here will be very much prepared.

"If we are missing bodies, we will do what we can."