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THERE’S been some sparkling achievements in football this season.

But one which has slipped through the goal net has been at Solihull Moors.

Last weekend the Midlands outfit secured survival in the National League with a victory over big-spending Eastleigh – a team chairman Stewart Donald has already pumped £3m in to.

It really was a case of ‘Moors the merrier’ as a 2-0 win kept up a club whose wage bill for all players and coaching staff is a paltry £250,000 per year.

On top of that, Solihull lost boss Marcus Bignot to Grimsby in November. Since his departure practically the whole squad has been revamped.

Just three players remain from Bignot’s time with director Jed McCrory and manager Liam McDonald leading a scouting effort to find young, unknown, local talent.

Opportunities were offered to youngsters including striker Oladapo Afolayan, 19, who was then playing for Loughborough University, where he’s still completing an engineering degree.

Many clubs are now watching the teenager, including Leicester.

Solihull also gambled on a rookie manager in McDonald, lured from Hednesford Town.

McCrory said: “With our wage structure, we had to be brave so went for youth and players from local lower-level clubs and a few ex-academy players.

“Plus two key loanees, Chelsea goalkeeper Nathan Baxter and Charlton midfielder Regan Charles-Cook.

“We went with a team of rookies – honest local lads, not into today’s culture of diving, getting people booked or abusing the ref.”

Aside from the survival on a shoestring, McCrory has upgraded Solihull’s Damson Park Stadium at a knock-down cost of £200,000. He was surprised to find the club had not budgeted for ground grading – meaning they could have been relegated on March 31 had he not acted.

The season’s had low points include a 9-0 thrashing at Tranmere three weeks ago.

McCrory added: “Solihull Moors staying at this level is an unbelievable achievement in non-League football and should give hope to all aspiring clubs.

“I sat watching the players come off the pitch and it still hadn’t sunk in. Then my missus called me to congratulate me.

“Lisa is a Solihull girl and she talked me into aiding the club and we have just had our first kid, Max.

“I looked at the fans in the stand singing. Then in the bar, you could hear them singing, with huge smiles everywhere.

“I was there, mentally drained having spent the last six weeks calming everyone else down and installing confidence and belief through a six-game run of defeats. “Then I received a call from a friend at a Championship club saying what I’d done was...