STANLEY owner Andy Holt believes the qualities that have helped take the Reds to top spot in League Two can’t be bought for any price.

A League Two benchmarking report landed on Holt’s desk this week revealed Stanley have the second lowest budget in the league. But John Coleman’s side are making a mockery of their tight finances, sitting top of the table and looking well set for promotion to the third tier for the first time since the club were reformed in 1968.

Stanley are punching above their weight this term and Holt sees the traits instilled by Coleman and his long-term assistant Jimmy Bell as key to the success on the pitch and invaluable to boot.

“I’ve just got the report through, we’ve got the second smallest budget in the league,” Holt said.

“Some budgets are treble ours. But it’s not just about budget, it’s the motivation and spirit than John and Jimmy put into the lads. 

“They are key factors. You can’t buy team spirit, you certainly can’t buy what we’ve got and what we had on Saturday at Luton.”

The Reds were a whisker away from promotion two years ago when they went into the final weekend in the automatic promotion places, only to be held to a goalless draw by Stevenage, with Bristol Rovers snatching a last-minute winner to condemn Stanley to the play-offs, where they were beaten by AFC Wimbledon.

It’s looking even more promising for Coleman’s side this time around though, with Stanley eight points clear of Wycombe in fourth with 10 games to go, the next of which is at home to Forest Green Rovers tomorrow.

The win at Luton last weekend took the Reds top of the table and Holt could hardly contain his pride at the performance.

“I was emotionally drained, I was flagging, I couldn’t get myself off the floor. I was so proud at watching how determined the lads were,” the owner said.

“It’s something to behold watching what happened on Saturday because Luton are a good team, they’re probably the best team we’ve played home and away this season.

“I was sure going into it that we would win, I just wish it wasn’t so late. It was special. There has been a lot of special things over the last couple of years though, we’ve beat Burnley and Preston (in the EFL Cup), we’ve been to play West Ham.

“It’s a fantastic little club that is doing really well. I’m really looking forward to Saturday, I know a lot of people are going to come and if we get a game half as good as Saturday then we’re in for a treat.”