Jermaine Johnson may leave Rangers

Jermaine Johnson's goalscoring part in the win that lifted Stafford Rangers out of the relegation places appears to have been his last act for the club.

Johnson is the subject of a move from local rivals AFC Telford, who have put in a seven-day approach for the defender which expires today.

Both he and Rangers manager Matt Elliott kept the news under wraps in order to ensure the player was completely focused on what could prove his last game for the club, Saturday's crucial win at Gloucester where Johnson was captain for the day.

His 18th minute header was cancelled out by Tyler Weir's equaliser but Niall Maguire rode to Rangers' rescue with a stoppage-time winner and, with Hyde out of action, three points saw Elliott's men leapfrog them and climb out of the bottom two for the first time this year.

But Rangers' survival fight is set to go on without Johnson, who Elliott fully expects to leave the club.

He said: "I think he will go because, at the end of the day, it's an opportunity for him to prove myself. He's a great lad and I wish him all the best, but my primary concern is the welfare of Stafford Rangers.

"It's a pretty temporary basis for the lads who are not on contract here, they are effectively free to go if there is interest from other clubs and that's the situation we are in.

"The wage decrease has effected certain people and, if they feel they can get better money elsewhere, they are well within their rights to try and get better for themselves.

"I expected there to be a few casualties and, to a certain extent, it's inevitable."

Another player looking to make the move from Rangers to Telford is Levi Reid, who should be fit to play again this week after an ankle injury.

Reid has effectively left Marston Road but has yet to sign at the New Bucks Head, leaving him without a club if the move falls through.

And Elliott has not ruled out him returning to Rangers in that event, although the manager would question his commitment to the cause.

He said: "At the moment, Levi is still a registered player with us and I suppose you never say never, although he has put himself in a difficult situation.

"As far as I know, he's told me he's looking elsewhere. But, if he doesn't find a club, we might have use for him here although he has burned his bridges a little bit."