Rangers defender rejects Chasetown

Stafford Rangers defender Jon Patrick has turned down the advances of Chasetown to stay and fight for his place at Marston Road.

Patrick had been angling for a move to the Scholars and a reunion with former Rangers boss Chris Brindley, who signed him in 2009.

The former Walsall trainee is into his second spell with the club but lost his place when manager Greg Clowes signed Ryan Brown in the New Year.

The 21-year-old, himself, had only returned from Rushall Olympic last November but was permitted time away from the club recently.

His daughter being born left him needing to be with his family and he hasn't trained since, some three weeks after it happened.

Brindley had discussed signing the player with Clowes but the Rangers manager revealed Patrick is staying at the club.

He said: "Jon Patrick will come back to train with us and fight for his place at Stafford Rangers.

"Chris called regarding Jon, he had a text from Jon about his situation and rang me, like I would have done.

"I told Jon I would want a seven day approach from him but I would waive it, if he wanted to go.

"As far as I was concerned, I wouldn't stand in his way but he has decided to stay.

"He needs to show me now that he wants to get back into the team."

Winger Fabrice Kasiama - who, like Patrick, is in his second spell with Rangers - continues to stay away from the club.

Kasiama has only played 19 minutes of football since returning in December, after spending a few months at Wolverhampton Sporting Community.

The 20-year-old is still out with the ankle injury picked up in his comeback at Rushall Olympic and needs re-assessing by the club's medical staff.

The DR Congo-born wide man was due to travel with the team to Chester last Saturday and Clowes admits he's been left in the dark.

He said: "It took me a long time to get Fabrice back at Stafford Rangers, in the first place.

"But he's got to be fit and, at the moment, I have no idea how his ankle is."