Rangers squad invited back by boss

The unattached members of last season's playing staff have been invited back for pre-season training at Stafford Rangers under new manager Greg Clowes.

Clowes has revealed he has already spoken to captain Craig McAughtrie, defenders Mark Dudley and Grant Goodhead and second-choice goalkeeper Tom Turner about their futures at Marston Road.

The majority of last season's squad are still away on holiday while Jermaine Johnson, Ben Mills and Andre Francis, the club's longest-serving player, have left the club.

Players are not likely to be signed at Rangers until the non-contract forms for the Evo-Stik pyramid are handed out to their member clubs, which should be within the next fortnight.

Binding contracts are the only other deals that can be offered at this stage, with Clowes admitting there will be a revamp of the team.

He said: "The squad will be a mixture of players who want to stay from last season, some will be coming down the road from Newcastle Town and there will be other people who I am speaking to now.

"I had a meeting with the current lads after I was appointed and I invited those lads to pre-season training, but with no promises.

"They have got talent, there's no doubt about that, but I want people who want to play for this football club first.

"If we get the money right, that's a bonus."

When the squad is finalised, Clowes will tell his players to report back for pre-season training on June 28.

The new Rangers boss wants a clear two weeks before his side's first pre-season friendly, the visit of Port Vale to Marston Road on July 9.

He said: "The Port Vale game was put in before me and we are coming back early because we want four good sessions before the match.

"When you are playing Football League teams, you are not going to see the ball for long periods, so we have to make sure we are competitive."

The rest of Rangers' pre-season schedule is expected to be announced in the coming days.