Stourbridge director of rugby Neil Mitchell has urged caution ahead of next month’s National One kick-off.

Much has changed at Stourton Park since they clambered to safety at the end of last season, most of it prompted by the loss of central funding from the RFU.

Like the rest of their level three counterparts Stour now receive just travel expenses from the governing body and as a result have been compelled to rebuild their squad.

A smaller playing budget meant Mitchell was unable to keep some established players in an area where Moseley, Bees and even lower league clubs like Dudley Kingswinford and Malvern have been able to offer more.

Thankfully a shining knight has ridden up the M5 from Worcester bearing a player sharing arrangement that massively helps Stour.

Warriors prop idol Tony Windo arrives as head coach, former Sixways Springbok Thinus Delport is the new player-backs coach and a nursery full of dual registered youngsters have deepened Mitchell’s resources.

But the loss of ten senior players and their replacement with unpolished diamonds like England Under 18 players Matt Kvesic and Andy Short and others of varying quality, comes at the price of continuity.

And Mitchell recognises that fact: “Undoubtedly it is going to have an effect,” he said. “Integration is going to take time and there may be spells when we are found wanting in terms of organisation. That will take time to come.

“But with a whole bunch of new players we have a blank canvas. On that canvas we can paint threequarters of a full time team that is getting cutting edge coaching.

“You have got to look at that as an exciting prospect if what happened at Otley last season, when they brought in five or six fresh young lads in the backs and escaped relegation, is anything to go by.”

For all the upheaval Mitchell’s presence remains a constant as does the inspirational captaincy of lock Ben Hughes.