Stafford Rangers will today sign midfielder Sean Kinsella to a deal and turn their attentions to defensive cover ahead of the big Evo-Stik Premier League kick-off next week.

Midfielder Kinsella is one of only three of last season’s squad to remain at Marston Road and by far the most prolific, a regular fixture in the team that went down from the Blue Square North.

The 19-year-old was a full-time pro with Football League club Plymouth a year ago and first came to Rangers on loan last November, before leaving to try his luck in the Maltese Premier League with Hibernians.

Rangers brought him back to English football in March and he saw out the season at Marston Road, before boss Matt Elliott quit and Greg Clowes was made manager this summer.

Kinsella had been keen to return to the full-time game and went on trial at Stockport, but a hip injury kept him out for most of last month.

But, after a run out in Monday’s pre-season friendly against AFC Telford, Clowes has seen enough to sign the Stone-based playmaker to non-contract forms.

He said: “We have sat down with Sean and he is more than happy to sign on non-contract terms with us, we have agreed everything with him and we just need to get it on the dotted line.

“I am looking for a centre-half now, just in case we pick an injury up.”

Rangers still have another of last season’s squad, Alex Forde, on trial along with Joe Rogers and goalkeepers Jordan Wood and Gareth Barker.

Rogers impressed playing right-back in Monday’s game and Wood is in pole position to nail down a deal, providing back-up to Danny Read.

Clowes had already signed another goalkeeper, last season’s No 2 Tom Turner, but has allowed the 18-year-old to join up with Midland Alliance side Causeway.

The Rangers boss said: “It’s clear who is going to the No 1 goalkeeper for the start of the season, not only because he is experienced but also because he has been playing well.

“We have brought the lad Wood in and he’s been on the bench for the last two games, so I have got to make a decision on that.

“Tom has been having some games for Causeway so I would expect that he will be staying there, at this moment in time that could be his club, but we still hold his registration.

“His heart is at Stafford but he wants to play first-team football.”

Rangers will also, under instructions from police, segregate supporters for their season opener against FC United of Manchester at Marston Road on Saturday week.

At half-time, Rangers fans will enter the club house through the main gate and into the bar, while away supporters will enter the club through the snooker room to the Boro Suite.