Radcliffe hand contract extensions to five players

Josh Hancock, Ewan Bange, Jake Thompson, Jamie Morgan and Luca Navarro have all agreed to remain at the Boro, with the club holding the option of a further year for each of the players.

The new deals come ahead of Saturday’s trip to Whitby Town, with Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley’s side requiring just one point to mathematically seal the Northern Premier League title and subsequent promotion to the National League North.

Experienced midfielder Hancock, who arrived at the club from Curzon Ashton last summer, has netted 17 goals in 39 appearances during his debut campaign - putting him second in the scoring charts behind Jordan Hulme.

He also reached double figures in his final season for Curzon in the National League North and is on the verge of being reunited with his former club in 2024/25.

The 33-year-old's 10-year career has seen him play for the likes of Altrincham, Salford City, Nantwich Town, Witton Albion and Telford.

Forward Bange has also committed his immediate future to the club, having first joined from Blackpool in January 2023.

He has scored seven goals during his time in Greater Manchester so far.

Two players who have been at the club for far longer are wide man Thompson and forward Navarro.

The former has agreed to a third season at the Neuven Stadium while Navarro, who scored a 19-minute hat-trick in the club’s recent 4-0 victory over Matlock Town, first joined in 2020 and has featured heavily for the Boro across two spells.

Navarro has developed into a fan favourite by racking up over 40 goal contributions - 17 of which have come during this season alone.

The final player who has agreed terms to remain at the club is former Altrincham man Morgan, who signed from Chester last summer.

The full-back has scored 10 times in 35 appearances and proven his versatility by playing across the backline when called upon.

Radcliffe have won 27 of their 37 games this season and are on the brink of sealing promotion to Step 2.

The title will be theirs, so long as they avoid defeat on the road this weekend.

Photo credit: Darren Murphy