Matt Elliott lines up four at Rangers

Stafford Rangers manager Matt Elliott has been in talks with four new players this week in a bid to significantly bolster his squad at Marston Road.

Elliott has lined up the quartet, who all play in different positions, in addition to signing utility man Ashley Wooliscroft, who is expected to rubber-stamp his move from AFC Telford in time to play against Nuneaton on Saturday.

The Rangers boss remains tight-lipped on the identity of his targets but needs a defender and midfielder immediately, with captain Craig McAughtrie and Levi Reid both set to start suspensions.

McAughtrie's defensive cohorts Mark Dudley and Jermaine Johnson have both been playing through the pain of a bruised foot and tight hamstring respectively, while winger Fabrice Kasiama is still a week away from returning from a medial ligament strain.

The manager is also considering letting fringe wide man Tom Moss join Midland Alliance club Biddulph Victoria and could well clear the decks of his walking wounded and out-of-favour players to make way for the new additions.

However, Elliott admits it's unlikely he will close every deal, although he hopes to complete enough to leave him sufficiently covered on Saturday.

He said: "I am looking at various options and I don't expect to get all of them but, if all things go as I would like them to go, all of a sudden we would have a healthy sized squad.

"It's quite complex, situations change day by day and it's a tricky situation, you cover positions but you don't want to end up with an overload of players when everyone is fit.

"I am trying to weigh the situation up in that respect as well, because I don't want to end up with a glut of players in one position."