VAUXHALL FC manager Owen Brown has announced his retained players list for next season with veteran midfielder Carl Nesbitt the only squad member leaving.
Nesbitt, 34, has been with the club since their West Cheshire League days, playing more than 500 games in an 11-year spell. But after being displaced in the Motormen's engine
room by Mike Garrity and Brian Moogan, Nesbitt said he wanted regular first team football.
Vauxhall chairman Alan Bartlam is looking forward to a much-improved campaign for his club next season.
Despite speculation linking manager Owen Brown with the vacant Chester City job in the final month of the season, the Motormen ended lingering relegation fears with an impressive finish which saw them win their final four games.
Bartlam said: 'Although Owen didn't get the Chester job, it's nice to know you've got a damn good manager who commands respect within the game. As far as I'm concerned it's going to be onwards and upwards now that we know Owen will be staying. There wasn't an awful lot between many of the sides this season and losing Terry Fearns was difficult.
'Nobody was kidding themselves that this wouldn't be a season of consolidation. I didn't expect us to hit the heights but was disappointed that
we ended up having to play catch up after a slow start. However, I take encouragement from our more recent displays and believe this side can go places next season. If we can find a striker, we're going to be up there.'
Look out for a special full-page tribute to Carl Nesbitt's remarkable Vauxhall career in next week's Pioneer.
