Rangers boss plays the waiting game

Stafford Rangers manager Greg Clowes is happy to play the waiting game and get the most for the money on offer at Marston Road.

Clowes had hoped to get some of his transfer targets tied up already but non-league contract forms, which were supposed to be made available to clubs on Tuesday, are running late.

The Rangers boss is still hopeful of signing up players by the end of the week but has earmarked a portion of his budget for late on in pre-season, when teams make final additions to their squad.

Keeping cash in reserve also allows Clowes to run the rule over trialists in pre-season who hope to earn a deal.

In excess of 20 players are expected to join Rangers for their return to training next Tuesday night including three left-backs, five centre-backs and four goalkeepers.

But Clowes insists that will not stop him bringing players in from outside Marston Road in the run-up to the new campaign.

He said: "I always think that a good bit of business is done right before the start of the season, that's when you tend to get a few calls.

"You get players who spend pre-season somewhere but are then frozen out, or maybe don't get the right feeling for it.

"I remember last year at Newcastle Town picking up a good few signings just before the season started, after I had put my initial squad in.

"And what I am finding this summer is that being at Stafford Rangers does open doors for you."