STANLEY boss John Coleman will use the rest of this season to assess his team -- ready to launch a challenge for the Conference next time out.

The Reds have slipped away from the UniBond Premier Division's leading pack and Coleman will now take the opportunity to bring in new faces and try a few youngsters.

And it may start tomorrow when Gainsborough Trinity visit the Crown Ground with Stanley looking to halt a run of three successive league defeats.

"We're desperate for a win tomorrow but I think we'll do it, I always think that," said the Stanley chief.

"We have the ability, it's just we need a little confidence.

"We have the basis of a good side and next season we'll have a go at it.

"While Eric Whalley is Chairman and I am manager we will always be ambitious.

"There are a few youngsters coming through and I might look to add to the squad."

Coleman would like to see a Conference Division Two to give teams like Stanley a bigger chance to make an impression.

"The gulf between the Conference and our league is growing now. Many Conference sides are full-time. It's not a shock in the FA Cup anymore when a Conference side beat a Third Division team.

"We are doing our best to try and bridge the gap and I think if they had a Conference Two, it wouldn't be about whether the grounds are good enough as we will be already in there, but about how well you do.

"If we have success, we would be looking to go full-time. Ambitious clubs like us can benefit."

While looking ahead, Coleman is also keen to have Mark Shirley -- who has been sidelined almost all season with a knee injury -- back next term to lead the charge.

"Losing him has been a massive blow, he dictates the pattern of play and it's taken time to adjust. I'm not making excuses but we'll be glad when he returns."