PAUL Cook has stressed the need for a more balanced squad next season after Accrington Stanley lost several senior players to injury during the 2011/12 campaign.

Stanley were left with an inexperienced line-up after Sean Hessey and Danny Coid were ruled out together with Dean Winnard, while Bryan Hughes missed several weeks with a hamstring problem and Ian Craney battled ankle issues following a broken leg earlier in the season.

In the days before John Coleman’s departure in January the Reds had sold captain Andy Procter to Preston, having also seen loan defender Kevin Long recalled by Burnley.

“From John’s team we lost Kevin Long immediately and Andy Procter,” Cook said.

“We were also without Ian Craney for the full length of the season and without Sean Hessey, and at times we were without Danny Coid and Bryan Hughes.

“Any club at our level, to lose those players it’s not easy.

“For us going forward, we don’t want a situation to happen again where senior players are out injured and it can damage the club in terms of finance because they’re on decent enough money.

“So my job is to try to make the squad possibly a little bit more balanced.”