Rangers are down to one centre-half

Stafford Rangers are down to their last centre-half for Saturday's season opener at Kendal after learning Jermaine Johnson must serve a one-match suspension.

Johnson was sent off after two yellow cards playing for Hednesford against Worksop on April 21, before joining Rangers for a second spell in July.

The 21-year-old thought the play-off final counted as his ban, despite playing in Hednesford's semi-final defeat to Bradford Park Avenue.

Rangers and manager Greg Clowes were made aware of the suspension through a letter from the Football Association.

Clowes said: "We only found out a few days ago, it's something we had through from the Football Association.

"Jermaine thought that, because he played in the play-off game, he wasn't going to be suspended. He was as shocked I was."

Ryan Dicker is the only central defender available when Rangers kick off their Evo-Stik Northern Premier League campaign.

Johnson, Liam Walshe, Luke George and Karl Espley are all suspended, Walshe joining Johnson in serving a ban from his last club, Mickleover.

The only option may be to use Jimmy Turner alongside Dicker on Saturday, with Alex Forde stepping in for Turner at right-back.

Right winger Peter Heler is also suspended and, at one point, Turner was viewed as a replacement but that task is now set to go to Dean Clarke.

Clowes said: "All of a sudden, we have gone from a 21-man squad to 17 players on Saturday, with one centre-back.

"Jimmy can play there, he's a quick lad who wins his headers, so that's one other option that we have.

"Alex has done better with us this year than last year and he can play at full-back, no problem there.

"Dean has got all this pace, he can deliver a good ball and he has been made aware that he needs to use it.

"When you have got pace and you can put a ball into the box, you have got an asset, so we see things in him."