LEAM Richardson has admitted he would love to sign friend David Dunn for Accrington Stanley – should the opportunity arise at some point in the future.

Richardson and Dunn remain close after emerging from the Blackburn Rovers youth ranks together. The Stanley boss has already signed James Beattie, another former Rovers team-mate, since taking over last month.

But Richard-son also knows that Dunn’s future currently remains at Ewood Park.

Eleven months ago the 32-year-old signed a new deal, which runs until the end of the current campaign, and Rovers said at the time they were eager to help him gain experience as a coach with a view to a long-term role on the club’s staff.

Richardson said: “Dunny’s a Blackburn Rovers player, he’s also a good friend.

“I know he also wants to step on to the other side of the fence with coaching as well as playing as long as possible.

“But if there was ever a chance, for the quality of player first and foremost, I’d have him here tomorrow.

“For a friend and for his knowledge of the game on the coaching staff, the same as James (Beattie), it would be a good thing for Accrington.

“It would be a great thing, but professionally you would just have to wait and see.”

Beattie joined Stanley as a player-coach on a contract until January and Richardson says he will hold talks with the striker in the next couple of weeks to see if an extended deal can be arranged.

“James seems to be enjoying himself and we’ve had a couple of chats,” said the Stanley boss.

“There are no major talks of doing anything else at the minute, with the games coming thick and fast you kind of want to take care of those things first.

“There will be a period where I sit down with James and see where we go from there.”