Jon Downing still believes in Rangers

Jon Downing believes Stafford Rangers can be restored to their former glories in his absence.

Downing left the club after 18 years of service last week, one summer after stepping down from his second term as chairman.

The 60-year-old, who turns 61 next month, had seen it all since joining the board in 1993 but his final season ended on a sour note, with Rangers relegated from the Blue Square North.

It was Downing who was chairman when Rangers went up from the North to the Blue Square Premier in 2006, before going down two years later.

They dropped into non-league football's third tier last month, but Downing was on the board the last time that happened in 1996.

The club slowly recovered and Downing believes they are still a big enough force for history to repeat itself.

He said: "With hard work, drive and ambition, you can go forward and anything is achievable. It doesn't come easy but if you work hard at it and make the right decisions, it can all come together.

"It's always hard running a football club, you set out with a plan but, if you look at the game now, it's a procarious industry. There's no guarantees in life, anybody can go through it.

"It's a big club, respected in the non-league football fraternity as a big outfit and let's just hope the directors that are there can take them forward."

A big part of Downing's life came to an end with his decision to leave, hot on the heels of current chairman Mike Hughes, who is retiring after 26 years at the club.

Hughes has insisted he will continue to follow and help Rangers in any way possible and Downing has vowed to do the same.

He said: "It's gutted me to leave but it doesn't happen overnight, you sort of think about it and know your time is coming to an end.

"But I will never be far away, I am a fan and I love the club to bits. When I think of football, I can only think of Stafford Rangers.

"If there was any crisis, I would be there."