Rains was delighted to remain in charge after a request from chairman Bruce Elliott and the board to remain in charge at Gander Green Lane.

It is a chance for Rains to strengthen his battered side as they come to terms with life outside the Nationwide Conference.

"I have been asked to carry on at the club and have accepted. My aim will be to win the Ryman league again so we can have another go in the conference."

Having finished at the foot of the table, Us will be eager to pit their wits against the Aldershot, St Albans, Chesham and Canvey Islands of this world.

"Now we are back, players will be better equipped to play in this league.

"With players like Dave Harlow, Paul Harford, Nko Ekoku and Sammy Winston we have the team to get us back up there."

But Rains insists that he is still on the lookout for more players to strengthen the squad, after the recent retirement of Andy Riley and the pending departure of Gwynne Berry to Corinthian Casuals.

"I need players for all positions. I have been talking to a few over the last week, but it is too early to say who will be staying or leaving the club."

That decision will be made in the near future, as the Us boss is still thought to be weighing up who he wants to stay and who can go.

"I will let them know in the next six weeks. There is no rush at the moment because most of them are still recovering from the season.

"I will decide who I want and take it from there. It is likely that the majority of the players will stay and help us get over what has happened."

Rains will be eager to tempt out of contract keeper Gareth Howells as well as Aiden Newhouse, Mark Watson, Richard Skelly and Darren Brodrick into staying at the club.

Bowyer warned that new cash is not on the cards for Carshalton

Football

By Russell Young

Carshalton manager Gary Bowyer has conceded that his hands are tied as he attempts to strengthen his Robins squad in time for the new season.

Now retired from the game Bowyer states that he has the same budget as he had at the start of the last campaign.

He said: "I have been told by the chairman that there isn't any money to spend on new players.

"The only way I am going to strengthen the side is if I sell one of my better players and bring in two or three in their place to strengthen the squad.

"I am sitting around wondering what my budget is going to be. It would be nice to get three or four new players in."

One of the players who could be sold to finance more signings is Robins' top scorer Richard Newberry, who finished as the third highest scorer in the Ryman Premiership.

Another options would be to recruit from the club's youth set up that has already seen Matt Fowler blossom into a promising partner for Richard Newbery next season.

"If they can hit form early in the season and get us off to a good start then we can start to relax around October time.

"But if we don't get a good start then it could be a struggle like it has been over the last three seasons."

With the campaign now over Bowyer is appealing for a new main sponsor to help the Robins to fly away from an annual relegation dogfight.

"The clubs agreement with CDL ran out at the end of this season. What the club needs is a sponsor that will help us move forward."

Any interested should Robins contact the club on 020 8642 8658.