Stafford Rangers have received a number of applications “well into double figures”  for the vacant manager’s job.

The club have brought forward the deadline for applications to today in the hope of making a quick appointment and hope to have a new boss in place before next weekend.

Rangers have been managerless since Matt Elliott resigned last week, but the job is a paid role and Elliott already knew his playing budget for the season ahead before he quit.

And chairman Mike Hughes, who will gather the various CV’s together at Marston Road by the close of play today, has revealed there has been a keen interest in the job.

He said: “I have lost count of the amount of applications we have add, it’s well into double figures.

“We have, more or less, agreed on the budget so, now we know more or less where we are, it will be the same as we told Matt it was going to be.

“But it will be in the region of what we can afford.”

The managerial situation is holding up Hughes’ own plans to stand down this summer, bringing to an end 26 years of working for the club.

There is no word yet on his successor but Hughes plans to have left in time for his 65th birthday in July.

He said: “Choosing the new manager is a board decision but they have asked me to continue.

“Really, I wanted to go at the end of the season and I don’t really want to stay as chairman past the end of June.

“I didn’t evisage having to help find a new manager but I am willing to sort it out, in the best interests of the club.

“But, eventually, there has got to be a change.”

Rangers have also released new season ticket prices, based on Evo-Stik Premier League football in 2011-12, and are offering Early Bird rates.

Supporters buying their season tickets before the end of June can do so for either £170 or £150, depending on whether they want access to the stand included in the price.

Concession – senior citizens, students and members of the armed forces – rates are £130 and £100, while under-16′s are charged at £95 and £65.

From the start of July, full season tickets will be £170 into the ground and £205 into the stand, with concessions at £114 and £150 and under-16′s at £75 and £110.

Vice-presidents membership, essentially a VIP season ticket, costs £400 on either count.

Standard ticket prices are £9, concessions £6 and under-16′s £4, with a £2 charge to transfer to the stand.