ACCRINGTON Stanley boss John Coleman says some of his squad are playing their way out of contracts for next season after the Reds’ winless run was extended to nine games with Saturday’s 5-1 loss at Crewe Alexandra.

All but four players – Andy Procter, Jimmy Ryan, Phil Edwards and Chris Turner – see their current deals expire this summer and Coleman is scheduled to meet managing director Dave O’Neill today to discuss which players he wants to retain.

The Reds were flying high in play-off contention only a few weeks ago, but a disastrous run of just one point from their last nine games has seen them slip to 17th in League Two.

That has now put Coleman’s remarkable record of improving the club’s league position in each of his 11 years in charge under great threat, with the Reds needing to finish 16th to match last season.

And the alarming dip in form means Coleman may decide to let more players leave this summer.

“People are striking themselves off the list one by one, the ones I want to keep for next year,” he said.

“So in the end these results could be a blessing in disguise in regards to what we want for next year.

“I haven’t made my mind up on all of them but slowly but surely they’re ticking the boxes. I’ll sit down with the board on Monday and then I’ll know who I want to keep.”

Stanley host relegation-threatened Barnet tomorrow night and will be without keeper Ian Dunbavin, who is set to serve a two-match ban after his second red card of the season on Saturday for a professional foul when the Reds trailed 2-1.

“He shouldn’t have been sent off,” said Coleman. “It was a tight angle. I don’t think they would have scored and we had plenty of men covering.

“Once Crewe got the third and we had a man sent off, and Billy Kee was carrying a knock so we were virtually down to nine, they were just able to play around us.

“But I have to apologise to our fans because I thought we were very poor today and big questions have got to be asked.

“When you concede after five minutes from an aimless free kick into your box, all your preparation goes out of the window.”