Stafford Rangers in vital meetings over clubs future

Boss Graham Heathcote today insisted a series of meetings at Stafford Rangers this week are vital to the club's future.

The Marston Road chief cannot decide on his future until the club's plans are resolved.

Rangers chiefs are holding talks this week about the club's direction following relegation from the Northern League Premier Division.

And Heathcote said the discussions are crucial to ensuring the club are able to recover from a horror campaign.

He said: "It's about survival and the situation could not get more important than that. People have had a go at running football clubs everywhere and I believe there's always a time scale for people at clubs.

"If new people are needed, then that's fine. Whether that involves me is not important. I'm not important, it's about the whole picture.

"I'm open-minded and I'm going to see what's being said.

"I don't know what will happen to the club and can't make a decision until I do know what's happening with budgets, what direction the club is going and the way forward for Stafford Rangers."

Rangers were relegated last month and lost 1-0 to King's Lynn on Saturday to stay third from bottom, 20 points from the safety line with four games left.

Heathcote is their third manager this term – following Greg Clowes and Andy Mutch – and has been forced to blood the youth team after losing several first-teamers.

Jack Edwards, Alex Hannan, Tom Vaughan and Dan Nowle all played on Saturday and Heathcote urged them to take their chance.

He said: "The youngsters have absolutely nothing to lose.

"We've got major problems. We have to reorganise and get ready for next season. The kids can get the chance and they can only benefit."