ACCRINGTON Stanley’s squad have been told not to talk about the club’s financial situation at training as they focus on continuing to revive their play-off hopes against Crewe tonight.

Stanley boss John Coleman last week set his players a target of 10 wins if they are make the League Two play-offs and the Reds gained the first of those when they triumphed 2-1 at fourth-placed Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday, ending a four-match winless run.

But the result was overshadowed in part by the club’s ownership and financial struggles, with a board meeting held after the game to discuss the way forward.

Stanley’s players have recently seen their monthly wages paid late, with postponed home matches leaving the club short of cash.

Tonight’s game was due to take place on Boxing Day, only for it to be hit by the big freeze, and gate revenue is expected to be much reduced for what is now a midweek fixture.

But assistant boss Jimmy Bell has paid tribute to the way the squad have remained focused on football and says that must remain the case if they are to climb from 17th into the top seven.

“We’ve kept them away from all of the financial stuff and they’ve been good about it, with the wages and everything like that,” said Bell.

“They have focused on the games 100 per cent and not let anything else get in the way.

“We won’t have people kicking off about things with the ownership.

“When they go away from work they will probably talk about it, but when they’re at work they’re here to play football and nothing else.”

Stanley launched their ‘Back the Boys’ campaign last month in a push for increased attendances and Bell believes that still remains important.

He said: “The ownership situation will sort itself out and that was why we had the meeting with the fans and the press last month to say that the supporters still need to get behind us, because if they don’t the club will go under.

“We need them now more than ever.”

Stanley are at home tonight for the first time since their game against Southend 10 days ago was called off only an hour and a half before kick-off with the playing surface waterlogged.

Contractors have since been working to install temporary drains and Bell hopes the pitch will now survive wet weather.

“It looks a lot better, it looks quite good after the work they have done so hopefully there won’t be any bad weather,” he said.

“We will have to see how it plays.

“We have had a meeting with the players and told them that the Wycombe result can’t be a false dawn.

“We need to go on a run now and string three or four wins together.”

Young midfielder Alan Burton has joined Marine on a month’s loan.