ELLESMERE Rangers Football Club hope to go into the new North West Counties League South season on a high after appealing upon the community to get involved.

The Beech Grove club enjoyed a fine campaign, narrowly missing out on a play-off place and ending finalists in the Ed Case Trophy.

However since manager Matt Burton has stepped aside alongside long-serving coach Connor Courtney.

The club's reserve string is also on the look-out for a new management team to lead their forthcoming campaign in the first division of the Salop Leisure Shropshire League.

Club spokesman Ryan Newton hoped the summer would also see more members of the community come forward to boost the committee and take on vital matchday and off the field roles.

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"Everyone at the club is grateful to Matt who steps down due to work committments and Connor who has been involved with the club for a number of years and has now taken the decision to move on.

"The club enjoyed a good season in the North West Counties South League and whoever comes in will have good foundations to build.

"We are also on the look out for a new manager for reserve team. Everything is in place but the young lads just need someone to lead them next season."

Many of the club's talent has progressed from the junior ranks through to the senior side.

"Around 80 per cent of the reserves came through from our under 18s side," added Newton.

The Swans hope greater community involvement can further boost their ambitions next season having ended last season so close to a crack at promotion.

"Our main rivals locally are Whitchurch and Shifnal who we are trying to compete with as best we can," said Newton. "We feel some new blood at the club, at committee level or in other roles, would bring new ideas to the club as well.

"We need Ellesmere people to come and get involed in running the club, we have all sorts of roles available within the club and any help would be most appreciated."

Director of football Alan Davies was more stark in his warning unless new blood comes forward.

"We are in need of revamping our club," he said. "Our committee is all ageing and if we are not careful we will lose the town's football club."

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