Stafford will be keeping a watchful eye on former loan stars Tom Thorley and Jimmy Phillips as the summer wares on.

The teenage duo are now officially free agents, after they were released at the end of their one-year professional deals by Premier League side Stoke.

Thorley had expected as much, as he took part in the League Football Education assessment trials last month, a shop window of trial games open to young players looking to find new employment.

The 19-year-old also spent time on trial at League Two Rotherham near the end of the last campaign, seeing the writing on the wall at the Britannia Stadium.

Now Phillips has joined him in the transfer market.

Both are still held in high regard from their time at Marston Road last season, Thorley in particular, who spent five months in two spells with the Blue Square North club in 2008/09.

Winger Phillips, also 19, was a star of the Steve Bull era with some impressive displays in two months on loan, but returned to Stoke before current Rangers boss Chris Brindley was promoted from assistant boss last December.

The players are likely to want to stay with full-time clubs for next season, probably targeting a move to the Blue Square Premier or in the best case scenario another chance in the Football League.

But with the market awash with established performers in the wake of the economic downturn, should they be forced into the semi-professional ranks.

If that happens, football with a club they know could become an increasingly attractive option.