ACCRINGTON Stanley’s squad will benefit from the hospitality of the Crown pub after ending their stay at Blackburn Rugby Club.

Stanley had used the rugby venue as a training base for meals and meetings in recent times, but the pitches were not ideal for football so the Reds travel to Accrington and Rossendale College for sessions.

Paul Cook was keen to make training improvements and has now decided to relocate to the Crown Ground, which will also save on costs. A gym and physio facilities are being set up in portakabins, while players will have breakfast and lunch at the nearby Crown pub.

“It is funny, when you tell people you’re in the pub at 9.30 in the morning people wonder what you’re doing there!” laughed skipper Luke Joyce. “But it’s great for the lads to have breakfast and dinner together.

“We’re driving this way anyway to get to the college so the move made sense. We’ve got the physio facilities and a little gym, we’re hopefully bringing in a head tennis court and the manager’s office is here. He wants to make it more professional and it can only help everyone.”