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Rangers reveal pre-season players

Stafford Rangers manager Greg Clowes has revealed the names of 12 more players that have been invited to join the club for the start of pre-season next week.

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Stafford Rangers manager Greg Clowes has revealed the names of 12 more players that have been invited to join the club for the start of pre-season next week.

The list is headed by two ex-professionals from Port Vale, both 20, in midfielders Luke Chapman and Danny Edwards who join another former Vale pro, Paul Donnelly, at Marston Road.

Clowes takes in his first training session as Rangers boss next Tuesday night and will be joined by his three-man central defensive unit from Newcastle Town in skipper Donnelly, Karl Espley and 6ft 4in Ryan Dicker.

An additional stopper, Josh Skidmore, is also spending time at Rangers after playing for Halesowen last season.

Another of Clowes' charges from last season, John Sheldon, will be present as will two more left-backs in Chasetown's Nathaniel Jones and Rangers' reserve from last season, John Patrick.

Patrick fell from the first-team picture after a fall-out with previous boss Tim Flowers last season but starred in the reserve team's run to the Central Conference Cup final, as did midfielder James Marsden and goalkeeper Tom Turner, with all three set to return next week.

As many as four others could join Clowes in making the trip from Newcastle as well as two who were on the books of full-time Welsh Premier League outfit the New Saints last season, another goalkeeper in Gareth Barker and right-back Sean Jones.

Not all will get offered terms but will get the chance to impress, if they want it, boss Clowes has vowed.

He said: "The supporters now are just waiting to see who is going to sign, but I am not going to say people are signing when they haven't.

"I have been given promises and shook hands on deals, but that doesn't mean anything until they put pen to paper.

"There's a lot of names I have chucked in but I know that, somewhere down the line, a number of them are going to come through."

Donnolly's arrival at Rangers was revealed when he was present at last Tuesday night's open meeting with supporters and shareholders at Marston Road.

A member of last season's squad, fellow defender Grant Goodhead, was also present, with Clowes also telling fans a verbal agreement had been reached with last season's first-choice goalkeeper, Lee Evans.

The Rangers boss has also lined up another two signings from clubs in the Evo-Stik Premier League.

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