Stafford midfielder Bobby Wilson believes Rangers can shock the Blue Square North and challenge at the promotion end of the table next season.

The Marston Road men have already been written off, with bookmakers giving them the longest odds in the league at 50/1 to be crowned champions.

This has much to do with last season’s relegation fight and a subsequent 18th place finish, after financial cuts put an end to what at one point could have been a play-off challenge.

But the backs-to-the-wall mentality gave Rangers the strength to dispose of much higher opposition in 2008/09 and escape relegation with a game to spare, beating promoted Gateshead and champions Tamworth on the way.

Wilson – who left and then came back from Gainsborough during the campaign – believes that sort of spirit will serve them well this season.

If manager Chris Brindley can plug the gaps and retain the core of that squad, the 20-year-old believes anything is possible.

He said: “I am really looking forward to it, from what I have heard there is a lot going on. If we can get the players we want, I think it will be a very good season for us.

“The traumas of last year made us stronger as a group and if we can play like we did at the back end of the campaign – when we needed the points to stay up – I can’t see being far off promotion contention.

“It’s a big ask, but we will do really well if we stick together.”