Rangers boss welcomes new derbies

Stafford Rangers manager Matt Elliott has welcomed the derby rivalry with the West Midlands outfits in the Evo-Stik Premier League next season.

But Elliott would rather Rangers not be playing them at all and had stayed up in the Blue Square North.

However, the Marston Road men took the drop last weekend and now - with the fates of their local rivals also decided - they will come across Chasetown and promoted Rushall Olympic next season.

Rangers have never played either of them in a league game and, while it's a comedown for them, the prospect of all-West Midlands derbies in the third tier of non-league football next season has not been lost on everyone.

Followers of Chasetown and Rushall will certainly be looking forward to coming to Marston Road in 2011-12, adding to the prospect of bumper gates for the fixtures.

And that is about the only positive Elliott is taking from the notion.

He said: "I would rather be in a higher league and not be facing them, put it that way.

"It's not at the top of my thinking at this moment in time but, obviously, local derbies are decent affairs.

"And maybe it will be financially good for the club."

Another of Rangers local rivals, Hednesford, will also be in the third tier next season but ply their trade in the Zamaretto League Premier Division.

The Pitmen missed promotion after being beaten on penalties by Salisbury in the play-off final on Monday.

Elliott was assistant manager at Keys Park in 2008-09 but was not overly concerned by the fortunes of his former club.

He said: "I wasn't particularly rooting for them, to be honest, my sole concern was with ourselves.

"But I am not saying I haven't got friends there."