Hall Road Rangers' fortunes for the start of the year took a turn for the better on Thursday evening with the introduction of a new chairman to the Toolstation NCEL Division One club.

A statement from the club said: "Departing chairman Jason Cox took over leadership of the football club just over a year ago. His influence in the role of chairman has been invaluable as a stabilising catalyst over the nine teams under Rangers' banner and as such he will now take over the role of vice chairman. The new incoming head will be Mr Darren Sunley, one of the owners of Flex Communications, main shirt sponsors of Rangers first team.

"The introduction of Mr Sunley as chairman opened the way for fresh negotiations between the football club and the owners of the Dene Park Sports and Social Facility who had previously barred the first team from use of their ground.

"At a meeting on Thursday evening, Mr Sunley was voted in as head of the club and was pleased to announce as his first order of business that previous misgivings between the football club and the Dene Park site's owners had been appeased and all games would resume on the Dene Park site."

A spokesman for the Dene Park site said: "We are pleased to see the appointment of Darren Sunley as the new chairman and believe Hall Road Rangers and Dene Park can now move forward with a more understanding and trustworthy relationship."

Mr Sunley, whose first game in charge was the away fixture on Saturday against Pontefract Collieries, was delighted with his new role, saying: "I am very much looking forward to working with the committee and Dene Park in gaining Hall Road Rangers the public awareness and success they deserve.

"Grassroots football, in my view, is a vital part of Hull and Hall Road Rangers have a heritage at Dene Park which will hopefully remain indefinitely. We will be seeking sponsorship from local businesses moving forward and I'm sure we will gain support from this area.

"The redevelopment of the ground is also high on the agenda and we will be working with Dene Park to develop the clubhouse which will help both elements of the club."

Mr Sunley continued: "New and improved websites are currently being developed for both Hall Road Rangers and Dene Park Sports and Social Club which will be launched very soon. It's an exciting project for all concerned."