Board Statement – Neil Kitching

It is with the deepest of regrets and sadness that we announce that Neil Kitching has by mutual consent been released from his contract as team manager at Stafford Rangers with effect immediately.

This is not something that we wanted to happen, but the responsibility of the board is to make a decision based upon what we considered are the best interests of the football club.

Results on the pitch have not gone our way and the major and overriding priority is to make changes that will hopefully enable us to have the time to ensure the club remains at step 4.

The board met on Saturday 3rd January and felt there was no other option than to make this move and Neil was spoken to immediately after the meeting.

Neil and his management team joined us in January 2025 when we were at our lowest point and created something incredibly special once more and delivering not only results back to the club, but excitement based upon a winning mentality. Unfortunately, this season we have not been able to build upon that, and results have been poor and below expectations putting us into a relegation fight.

Neil will leave us together with his staff Nick Amos and Ian Cooper. They have been fine stalwarts for Stafford Rangers, and we thank them immensely for their total commitment to the club during both their first tenure at the club and this one. Football can often be cruel and ugly, but it is a results based business and everyone recognises this, but it makes the decision no easier, it still hurts and we find no comfort in announcing this news.

Neil and his staff have operated with passion, fight and desire together with massive amounts of integrity, and we thank them not only for what they have done but the way that they have done it. They had a special bond with fans and Neil, and his team will be distraught that things have not turned out in the way we all dreamt and hoped that they would.

We wish Neil, Amo and Coops the absolute best for the future, they will always be welcome at the club. We know they have a special place in their heart for the club and many of us have a special place in our hearts for them which made the decision painful.

Thank you to each of you.

Stafford Rangers FC