VAUXHALL Motors have moved to secure the futures of two of their best players this season.
Defender Tom Hannigan and midfielder Danny Fearnehough have put pen to paper on new contracts that will tie them to the Blue Square North club until the end of the 2012-13 campaign.
Motors chairman Alan Bartlam is delighted by the double deal.
He said: “It is fantastic news. Danny is still something of the new kid on the block but Tom has been with us for a while now and his performances have continually been exceptional.
“Our manager Carl Macauley thought there was no point waiting until the end of the season to sort something out so we’ve got it done now and we’re delighted.
“Their signings give us something us to build on.
“Danny is a young kid and since he’s come into the side he has done very well.”
Fearnehough signed for Motors in September after being released by Championship outfit Barnsley.
The 20-year-old forced his way into Macauley’s starting line-up toward the end of the year with a number of top performances.
The consistently impressive Hannigan has been one of the first names on Macauley’s team sheet for the past two seasons.
The centre-back has made the position his own and has now made 129 appearances for the club, scoring eight times.
Macauley is still on the lookout for new signings as he bids to haul Motors clear of the relegation zone.
Survival remains the number one priority but Bartlam and the board are placing great importance on building and improving the club’s standing in Ellesmere Port and its surrounding areas.
Motors have appointed a commercial manager in Katie Harris and launched the ‘Vauxhall Motors FC Community Sports’ project.
Bartlam is also keen to increase interaction with the club’s small but loyal band of supporters.
A question and answer session with boss Macauley, assistant manager Anthony Wright and coach Gary Martindale will take place in the Vauxhall Motors Sports & Social Club after the home game against promotion hopefuls FC Halifax Town on Saturday, January 21.
The session will begin at 6pm. Tickets, which include a hot meal, cost £5 for adults and £3 for concessions.
Motors, whose New Year’s Day trip to Colwyn Bay was rained off, welcome play-off chasers Worcester City to Rivacre Park this Saturday (3pm).
