Rangers boss is backing Town stars

Stafford Rangers boss Greg Clowes takes his first pre-season training session insisting his Newcastle Town charges can cut the mustard at Marston Road.

Clowes, who took charge at the start of the month, will welcome 15 signings and a clutch of trialists to the Shamblers training ground in Butterton, Staffordshire tonight.

Most have never played in the Evo-Stik Premier League where, as it stands, Rangers will be plying their trade next season.

And the new manager has recieved some criticism from supporters for bringing no less than 11 players from his former club, Newcastle Town, which could reach 12 if striker Neville Thompson also joins.

But Clowes points to the second place finish of Town in the Evo-Stik Division One last season, with 27 wins out of 42 games and 106 goals scored, as justification the stars of that side can cut it at a higher level.

He said: "I look at the players I have signed, I know what they can do and I know they can do well at this level of football.

"Some will say that they are not proven at this level and that's fair enough, but I would say that they were possibly too good for that standard.

"They were comfortable, not in a comfort zone but they knew each other's games inside out."