IAN CRANEY has urged relegated Stafford Rangers to do all they can to make sure boss Graham Heathcote remains at Marston Road.
Rangers, who were in the Conference Premier as recently as 2008, will be playing Step 4 football next season after a dismal season led to relegation from the Evo-Stik NPL Premier.
Former Altrincham manager Heathcote became Stafford's third manager of the campaign in January and couldn't save the club from the drop but Craney, on loan from Stockport County, knows the veteran boss will turn their fortunes around if he stays.
“Graham was my first ever manager back at Altrincham and he's the one who got my career going,” said the former Accrington, Swansea, Huddersfield and Fleetwood man.
“We've had to play a lot of young lads but having played with them and watched them in training, a few of them have a great chance of doing well.
“If they all stick around and the team is strengthened in the summer, the club should be a force next season. Graham knows Non-League like the back of his hand which is a big positive.
“As a club they've got to do everything in their power to keep hold of him and I think you can see he's done a marvellous job so far with what he's inherited.”
Craney, 31, says he will be leaving Stockport at the end of the season and would be more than happy to sign for Rangers on a permanent deal – as long as Heathcote stays.
The Marston Road chief has said he will wait to see what the club's direction is before committing his future and Craney added: “We've gone down which is obviously disappointing but I've enjoyed every minute of it.
“I've had a few calls asking what I'm doing next season so we'll have to wait and see but if Graham wanted me to stay at Stafford, I would like to.
“I remember playing against Stafford in my Conference days at Accrington and it's a big Non-League club. It's sad they've gone down to this level but I've got no doubts they'll start turning it around.”
