Stafford manager Steve Bull will be hoping for another bumper gate at Marston Road when Rangers welcome Southport in their next Blue Square North fixture on Saturday.

An enouraging crowd of 958 came through the turnstiles for last weekend’s local derby against Tamworth, a significant jump on the 679 who attended the last home game against Farsley on the opening day.

Indeed, it was one of the highest attendances in the league on that particular day, leading to renewed vigour around the club that the crowds are starting to come back to Marston Road.

Another big test for Bully’s boys comes in the shape of league leaders Southport on Saturday and, with a full house and a decent result, the Stafford coffers could again be in for a much-needed swelling.

As any club director or manager at Blue Square North level will tell you, bums on seats is a vital source of income, and the manager himself is beaming that the tide could well be turning.

He said: “I was very pleased with the gate at Marston Road last weekend. To attract that sort of attendance proves we are not far away and getting closer to where we want to be.

“As results continue to improve, more people will come. We need the fans and the town behind us for this football club to succeed, so this is an enouraging sign.

“I only hope that we continue to make this sort of progress on and off the field.”

On the field has been a mixed bag for Rangers, although eight points from the first five games is hardly a disaster. Indeed, even the Tamworth game ended in defeat, so the meanest of critics will not be silenced just yet.

Bully knows it will take time and is asking for just a little patience.

He said: “We still have our detractors I suppose but what do they want? Blood? We have only had two and a half months to gel what is practically a new side together.

“If the Stafford fans can’t see that there are 11 players out there that want to play for the club there is something wrong.”