David Lynch is delighted to have kept the ‘heart and soul’ of the Blues beating by extending the stays of senior men Billy Priestley and Gary Stopforth.

Club captain Priestley and midfield dynamo Stopforth have both agreed terms for the 2021/22 season.

And Lynch sees the double deal as another key part of business for the Blues.

“They are two big characters and arguably, for me, would get in any team in the league above,” said the player-manager.

“They are the spine of the team and the heart and soul of the dressing room.

“You know what you’re going to get from them every week and I’m delighted they are both staying at the club.

“It would have been unbelievably hard to replace two players of their quality.

“I don’t see us achieving what we want to without those two on board.”

Centre-back Priestley, 31, and Stopforth, 34, both joined the Blues last summer with high-class pedigrees including spells in National League North.

The locally-based pair – good friends off the pitch – were ever-presents in the season that’s currently on hold due to the pandemic.

And with the duo following Kielen Adams, Jake Connelly, Cole Lonsdale and Terry Cummings in committing for next season as well, Lynch’s plans are well advanced for when football gets the go-ahead to re-start.

“We want to keep the majority of the squad but we can’t be having proper conversations with anyone else really until we get a bit more clarity,” added the Blues’ boss, who has also signed a new long-term deal at Shawbridge.

“But the fact we’ve got the four younger lads signed up, plus these, two is fantastic.

“It gives you a good building block for next season.”

The current NPL season remains on hold and officials have confirmed that no decision on the next step will be made until the Government has issued its planned ‘roadmap’ out of lockdown later this month.