Rangers boss holds game for trialists

Stafford Rangers will hold a full-scale training game to run the rule over trialists ahead of their first pre-season friendly next week.

Rangers start their summer programme at Rocester next Tuesday night after the squad reported back to begin training last Thursday.

The number of trialists on board is in double figures and manager Greg Clowes is already looking to sort the wheat from the chaff.

A big test will come with tonight's in-house match that will also include last season's players and a number of prospective new signings.

And Clowes admits that some of the trial brigade will be shown the door if they don't do the business on the pitch.

He said: "I will only be taking players into pre-season games who I feel will be moving us on, there's got to be some sort of cut-off.

"You can get an idea in training but a full-scale game is different, I will be able to have a really close look at some of these boys.

"There's 10 trialists with us, at the moment. Some have come from pro clubs, been recommended or I have seen them at exit trials.

"There will also be lads playing who have come into the club and we will be signing, it's just a case of giving them some match practice.

"This next two weeks will make my mind up roughly who is going to play a big part in our pre-season and who won't be."