Stafford manager Chris Brindley fears he may not get the chance to bring former loan star Tom Thorley back to Marston Road.

The Stoke teenager was a sensation in five months and two spells with the Blue Square North club in 2008/09, one of a clutch of players borrowed that helped the club escape relegation with a game to spare.

Now the talented midfielder faces an uncertain future, with the Potters set to make major decisions on their young players with the Premier League season over.

Thorley falls into that band and will soon be out-of-contract, with his one-year professional deal on the verge of expiring.

The 19-year-old has since spent time on trial with League Two side Rotherham but they have yet to make their move either, so an uncertain summer looms for the youngster.

But Brindley knows that – if the player is shown the door at the Britannia Stadium – he will focus all his energies on, at the very least, remaining a full-time footballer.

Which puts semi-professional Rangers way down the list of options.

The manager said: “He is another one we would be very interested in, but these are players who will want to stay in the Football League – or least at a full-time club.

“At the end of the day, who wouldn’t want to sign Tom Thorley? But he will want to play at the highest level he can, he will get trials so there is every chance he will be snapped up.

“We would come into the play down the line a little bit, if that didn’t work out for him. Thats the reality of the situation.”