Bully in belief plea

Steve Bull today pleaded for the footballing world to “Believe in Bully” as he prepared to take his first steps in management.

The new Stafford Rangers boss will be in the dugout for the first time since his appointment in tomorrow’s Blue Square Premier clash at Halifax and takes charge of a side 11 points adrift of safety.

The Wolves legend has been given a contract to the end of next season and will work closely with caretaker-bosses Kevin Street and Neil Grayson, who will be in charge until Bull officially takes over on March 1.

Bull has been out of the full-time game since a year’s spell as player-coach at Hereford in 2000 and he confronts a public sceptical whether he can transfer his stunning goalscoring exploits into the dressing room.

But he says confidently: 

“I’d say to my critics: ‘Believe in Steve Bull’. I’m not one for putting my foot in it, I like to get things done and talk about it later. I’d rather talk about that though when I’ve kept the club up.

“I seriously think they have got a good chance. If they do stay up, superb because it’s a massive drop down and no one wants to get relegated and being local as well, I want to keep them up.

“If my upbringing, expertise and background brings people to Stafford and puts them on the map, then I’ve done them a favour and they’ve done me a favour.

“Who knows whether I can keep them up this season? When the players heard Steve Bull was coming to manage them, a boost went around the dressing room and they have won the last two games.

“Whether that’s true, I don’t know but that’s what I’ve been told.”

Bull insists management is something he had to have a crack at and will happily walk away if he’s not a success.

Chairman John Downing says whatever happens, Bull will be in charge next season. “I’m not a greedy person in terms of money and contracts,” added Bully.

“If I’m not doing well, I will shake their hands and come away with nothing and vice versa.

“If I’m not doing it, they will say goodbye to me – that’s how the relationship is going to be.”