Neil Kitching reveals cultural changes he is vying to make at Stafford Rangers
Boss Neil Kitching has spoken of the cultural changes he is vying to make at Stafford Rangers, shifting the mentality from “surviving to challenging”.
Kitching returned to the Rangers in late-January with them living dangerously around the Northern Premier League West Division relegation zone. However, he led the Boro to a 12th placed finish, 12 points clear of the drop zone.
The Rangers have returned to the Stan Robinson Stadium in pre-season action, beating Nuneaton Town 1-0 last Saturday and losing to Rushall Olympic by the same scoreline on Tuesday.
Boss Kitching has outlined his burning desire to lead the Rangers to promotion in the new campaign - as he did during his previous spell as manager at the club - and revealed the changes in mentality that he is installing.
“The approach is slightly different this season, when we came into the club in January, it was all about survival, and making sure that we kept the club up and steered them clear of relegation which we did,” the Boro boss said.
“But, we are having to change the mentality a bit, not so much amongst the players, but generally around the club. We don’t want to be struggling, we want to be at the other end of the table, challenging.
“You have to put that into the dressing room and the club and change the mentality to rather than looking at the bottom end of the table and relegation, looking at the top end and promotion.
“That is what I am most looking forward to is hopefully shaping the squad over the next few weeks, and with a couple more fresh faces through the door, and having an outlook within the club and changing room of challenging rather than surviving.
“I am really looking forward to it. We have a couple of years to try and get this club back to step three in non-league football and I want to do everything I can to put the club back where it should be.”
The Rangers learned their fixtures for the new league campaign last week. They will host Avro on August 9 before visiting Darlaston Town.
“It’s great to get a home game to start,” Kitching said. “We play Lutterworth Town in the FA Cup a week on Saturday so that will be our concentration over the next fortnight.
“Whoever you get, you have to play them at some point. There is definitely no easy game at this level and in the league, we have to approach each game as if it is your toughest one.
“I am pleased that we are at home and then on the Wednesday night after the first game we have a local away game at Darlaston, so not much travelling at the start which is good.”
