ACCRINGTON Stanley chief executive Rob Heys believes the Football League were right to introduce new rules about transfer restrictions last summer – even though the Reds have twice been barred from signing players this season.

Stanley are currently subject to a transfer embargo after falling behind on their latest monthly payment of around £30,000 to HM Revenue and Customs, meaning manager John Coleman will have to wait to bring in the loan defender he had lined up last week.

The Reds have twice fallen foul this season of new rules introduced last June – at a Football League meeting attended by Stanley managing director Dave O’Neill in Portugal – stating that clubs who slip behind with tax payments will be unable to bring in new players.

But Heys said: “We think that rule is to be applauded.

“With all the problems clubs have been having it was only right that the Football League and the FA did something about it. We voted for it.”

And Heys has no concerns that the latest bill could lead to a winding up order.

“It will be paid at the end of this week or next week,” he said. “We’ve got a good relationship with the tax people and we’ve been open and honest with them.”

Stanley are making progress as they bid to secure funding for a new £1m development at the Crown Ground in the summer.

And there remains the possibility that the work could lead to the removal of some of the controversial seats in the Clayton End, which had to be installed last summer to meet Football League requirements.

The latest development would include new dressing rooms and a roof on the Coppice Terrace, which would have to become all-seated to be eligible for funding from the Football Foundation.

Heys said: “It would have to be seats so we would have to put some extra terracing in, possibly on the Whinney Hill side, because we are mindful that we do need to keep the capacity over 5,000 to meet Football League rules.

“There may be a possibly of taking some seats out of the Clayton End.

“It’s something that we’re looking into. We know the fans want to stand.”