JOHN Coleman is keeping an open mind as he looks for the next recipient of the captain’s armband.

Long-serving midfielder Luke Joyce vacated the position when he opted for a return to League Two rivals Carlisle United at the end of his contract.

Terry Gornell has skippered the side during the club’s pre-season friendlies, while experienced midfielder Andy Procter is also a candidate to resume the role, but is currently out of first team action as he continues his recovery from knee surgery.

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Procter was skipper in his first spell with the Reds following Peter Cavanagh’s departure, and went on to captain Preston North End straight after his move to Deepdale.

With just two weeks to go before the start of the new season, when Luton Town are the visitors to the Store First Stadium, a decision will have to be made by Coleman as to who will be named Joyce’s successor.

But, for the moment, the Stanley boss is assessing his options in a squad which he feels is blessed with natural leaders.

“It’s up for grabs,” he said.

“We’ve got a lot of lads who will be captains in their own right, whether they’ve got the armband or not.

“That’s what you want. You want people who are good role models and set a good example and we’ve got plenty of them in our squad at the moment.

While there is competition for the captaincy, Coleman is also relishing the glove battle between his two new goalkeepers.

Stanley struggled for consistency in selection in that position last season, using eight different keepers in competitive matches.

But after signing both Ross Etheridge and Jason Mooney, who at 6ft 9ins is the tallest player in the Football League, Coleman is hoping to put an end to one problem that has dogged him throughout his Stanley career.

He wants his only dilemma to be which of the two he puts in his starting line-up.

“We’ve got two goalkeepers boxed off and that’s something I was keen to do because I don’t think I’ve ever had two goalkeepers signed at Accrington,” he said.

“That will be a change for the better I hope and hopefully they hit the ground running.”