Rangers boss' respect for chairman

Stafford Rangers manager Greg Clowes today hailed chairman Mike Hughes for doing the job "no-one else wanted to do" at Marston Road.

Hughes reluctantly stayed on as chairman for the just-gone season, despite his plans to step down from the club completely last summer.

The 65-year-old had previously operated as both chairman and secretary but Robbie Mullin came on board to fill the latter role for 2011-12.

Meanwhile, Hughes prolonged his stint as chairman for the club's first season back in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League since 1996.

Should his tenure at Marston Road be extended into the next campaign, he would be approaching 28 years of service to the club.

Reg Bates, Rod Woodward, Roly Tonge and Cliff Went - who is still in hospital with a strangulated hernia - comprise the rest of the board.

But Clowes has no problem with the current operation and insists he has had all of the help he needs over his year in charge.

He said: "I have always believed that one of the most important relationships at the club is between the chairman and manager.

"Mike has done a job for the season that no-one else wanted to do and I respect him for that, he's got the club running through his veins.

"His knowledge of FA rulings and non-league football is better than anybody I know, it's best to have him with you than not!

"Robbie has taken the weight off him a bit and he's been a first point of contact this year, because he's my secretary.

"He's been very good for me this season and he's had an outstanding first year in the job."