Rangers captain signs for Hinckley

Stafford Rangers captain Craig McAughtrie will not be returning to Marston Road next season after landing a deal at Hinckley United.

Another of last season's squad, winger Danny Edwards, has also left the club to stay in the Blue Square North, signing for Worcester.

McAughtrie's departure ends his second spell at Marston Road, where he passed the 250-game mark after first joining the club in 2002.

The central defender was under contract last season but Rangers were relegated from the Blue Square North, which put paid to his chances of landing a similar deal.

The 30-year-old is also soon to become a father for the first time and wanted a club closer to his home in Derby.

Two Blue Square North teams and one club from the Evo-Stik Premier League had shown an interest but Hinckley have won the race.

Edwards also ends a second spell at Marston Road after joining from Chasetown in January.

They join Andre Francis, Ben Mills and Jermaine Johnson in leaving the club this summer and all have been signed by teams at the same or a higher level.

But Rangers are also clinging to the hope they could be sensationally reprieved from relegation from the Blue Square North.

However, the FA are still waiting on an appeal from Rushden & Diamonds to go with the complaint they have recieved from Bishops Stortford.

Both have a bearing on any potential outcome and, until the FA resolve the situation with both clubs, their future will remain up in the air.

Meanwhile, Rangers have released their full pre-season friendly list.

The schedule begins with a home match against Port Vale on Saturday July 9, before six consecutive away games.

Trips to Kidsgrove, Stone Dominoes, Rocester, Norton, Market Drayton Town and Ashton Athletic come Saturday to Tuesday from July 16.

The one exception is the game at Stone Dominoes, which is on Thursday July 21.

Pre-season ends with the visit of Woodley Sports to Marston Road on Saturday August 6.