JAMES Gray has left Accrington Stanley after having his contract terminated by mutual consent.

The striker had another year left to run on his deal at the Store First Stadium, but after finding himself out of the Reds’ starting XI under manager John Coleman and ending last season on loan at Northampton Town, the 23-year-old did not see a future with Stanley.

And manager Coleman said he could not stand in the former Northern Ireland Under-21 international’s way.

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“He’s a smashing kid and a great character, and to be honest I’ll miss him around the place. But I’ve been in football long enough, and a goalscorer long enough to know the frustration you get by not starting every week means you can’t score goals. I empathise a lot with him,” said the Reds boss.

“I could have made him sit around and tried to demand a huge fee for him, but I don’t think that would have been fair on the player to be honest.

“He’s done nothing wrong, he’s served the club really well and I wish him all the best wherever he moves.”

Gray was signed by former Stanley manager Leam Richardson in the summer of 2012, on a free transfer from Darlington.

The striker scored on his debut in a 2-0 win at home to Port Vale.

He went on to help Stanley secure League Two survival the following season with the decisive goal in the 2-1 win at Oxford United.

He followed that up with a brace in the 3-2 home win over AFC Wimbledon to end the season with seven goals.

Gray began last season in red hot form, scoring five in eight games.

But he was suspended when Coleman returned for a second spell in charge following a red card in a unhappier match at Oxford, and struggled to reclaim his place in the team.