Former Wolves striker Lee Mills today threw his hat into the ring to become the new manager of Stafford Rangers after resigning as boss of Bridgnorth.

The Midland Allliance club confirmed Mills’ departure yesterday, with assistant boss Tony Dinning expected to follow him out of the Crown Meadow.

Mills was a £1million forward during a 13-year playing career spent almost exclusively in the Football League that started with Wolves, later serving the likes of Derby County, Port Vale, Bradford, Manchester City, Portsmouth, Coventry and Stoke.

The 40-year-old finished his career at Hereford in 2005 and took his first steps into management last summer, taking former Rangers midfielder Dinning with him as his No 2.

They steered the club to safety in the fifth tier of non-league football last season, working without pay and a playing budget.

Both will be applying for the post at Rangers and may even go head-to-head for the job but, conversely, could come in as joint bosses.

Graham Heathcote is also a contender and will not be returning as manager of Altrincham, who appointed Lee Sinnott yesterday, while ex-Port Vale chief Dean Glover and former Congleton joint boss Anthony Buckle are also in the frame.

But Mills is the first to publicly express his interest in coming to Marston Road, having admitted he left Bridgnorth to work at a higher level.

He said: “I will be putting my CV in for sure and, if they ask me for an interview, I will be brutally honest in what my philosophies of football and, if it’s what what they are looking for, it’s all well and good.

“I was a professional footballer for 14 years, I worked under two England bosses in Graham Taylor and Steve McClaren, then some unbelievable managers like Harry Redknapp and Tony Pulis, who are in the Premier League today.

“I would like to think I have experienced just about everything that you can in football.

“I think I am a better manager than Level 5 so, anything above that, I will be interested in.”

Mills’ ability to manage on a shoe-string will appeal to Rangers, who will be cash-strapped after relegation from the Blue Square North.

He said: “Bridgnorth was a perfect club for me to go and cut my teeth in, as it was. I applied for that job knowing exactly what it entailed and, without patting myself on the back, I challenge anybody to do a job as what I did last season.

“When I went there, they had no money, players, coaching staff, chairman, most of the committee had left, no tracksuits or equipment – you can’t get any worse than that.

“Tony was my assistant last year and I like to think that, whatever we achieved, we achieved together.

“But the more obstacles that are put in your way, the better manager you will be because of it.

“And whoever gets the Stafford Rangers job must believe in what they are doing.”