Rangers plan to keep 'core' of team

Stafford Rangers manager Greg Clowes today admitted his first order of business in the summer will be to keep the "core" of his team at Marston Road.

But the Rangers boss also warned that, without putting all of the players under contract, it will be difficult to keep his improving squad together.

The club currently have two players on deals in Glynn Blackhurst and Luke George, who Clowes has already hinted will be offered fresh terms.

The rest of the playing staff are on non-contract forms and can leave at a week's notice, after an interested club make their initial approach.

The fringe members of the squad could be keen to move on as, currently, only players who are in the match-day squad pick up a wage.

The manager will be keen to pin down the likes of Chris Morris, Michael Carr, Ryan Brown and goalkeepers Adam Alcock and Danny Read.

But Clowes will still cast the net far and wide to bring in the fresh personnel that he thinks can push the team on to a higher level.

He said: "I have stuck with this group of players through thick and thin this season and it's all been about building the core of a team.

"We have got our eyes on other players, we would be foolish not to, but you have still got to go out and get those players.

"We have identified who we want and we have got to make sure we get it right, but there are players out there next season who can move us on.

"But you have got to keep what you can first, before you bring anybody in, and I think the majority of the players here are happy at the club.

"We have to be careful, though because, if you get a glut of injuries and they are all contracted, your budget gets completely and utterly smashed.

"On the other end, if you don't get them on contract they can move on, as we have seen. Fingers can be pointed at you for that.

"I have got to look at the whole picture."

Rangers have climbed back into the top 10 of the Evo-Stik Premier League, in their first season back in the third tier of non-league football since 1996.

Clowes said: "It was plain and clear that this season was to stop the free fall that was happening, it was haemorrhaging points that was the problem.

"The best was can finish is eighth and the worst will probably be 16th or 17th, but we have got a lot of teams that really have something to fight for.

"But so have we and I keep telling the players 'I don't want this season fizzing out.' I want us to finish properly, so it kicks us on."