Rangers boss waiting for side to gel

Stafford Rangers manager Greg Clowes has admitted it will take for his new-look side to gel after they lost their first two pre-season friendlies.

Clowes has yet to win as Rangers boss, after a 6-2 defeat at home to Port Vale followed by Saturday's 2-0 slip at Kidsgrove.

The team now face three away games in a row with games at Stone Dominoes on Thursday and Rocester on Saturday, before a trip to Norton United next Tuesday night.

Rangers will welcome a host of players back who were unavailable for the Kidsgrove game including defenders Karl Espley, Paul Donnelly and Ryan Dicker, along with winger Peter Heler and striker Alan Nagington.

Only Alex Forde and goalkeeper Tom Turner have appeared from last season's squad and, with 15 new players signed, Clowes admits it will take time for them to settle in.

He said: "When you have a group of lads who haven't played together before, they have all to blend. You know that you are going to get problems with cohesion and partnerships on the pitch, at first.

"There were some good things to come out of the games and there are some things I am not happy with, we will address it but it certainly doesn't worry me.

"I know it's a different club and a different time, but I can remember when we set all the records at Newcastle Town - we didn't win one pre-season game that year."

Rangers have called off their pre-season friendly at Market Drayton on July 30, after arranging to play Blue Square Premier side Tamworth.

The Lambs, managed by former Rangers goalkeeper Marcus Law, will now visit Marston Road that day.