ACCRINGTON Stanley boss John Coleman says decisions on the future of his out of contract players will be taken before their season finale at Stevenage on Saturday (5.30pm).

The Reds end their League Two campaign against a side bidding to finish in the play-off places and Coleman is determined to see his team mount a promotion push next time around.

And with a core of the current Stanley squad already under contract for 2017-18, and with the club having options on extending the stays of a number of other first team regulars, Coleman expects his side to have a familiar feel to it come August.

“I think it’s the first time in my time as Accrington manager, well since the Conference days, that I will have the bulk of the current squad starting pre-season,” said the Reds boss.

“I expect to keep the bulk of the squad and then maybe make a few additions.

“It is a difficult time but players tend to know if they will stay or go.

"It is people’s livelihoods we are talking about but I have got to do my own job and that’s select the best squad which I believe will go into next season to compete.

“I have to get the balance right of keeping players, allowing players to leave and bringing in new players.

“We are in a good situation where the best players in our squad are not going to get cherry picked with people taking the best and paying a pittance for them. Things have changed.”

And Coleman is determined to see his side, currently 13th in the table, challenging at the top of the table next year having said in the wake of last weekend's home defeat to Luton that he felt Stanley had 'under-achieved' this season.

Ahead of the trip to Broadhall Way tomorrow he said: "I believe we are in the top seven teams in the league this season so it has been a frustrating season.

“I have to try to improve the squad and it will be good starting the pre-season with players who are already here.

“It’s hard when you have 12 trialists as it’s not fair on them or the players already here. Then players have to get to know each other and it’s about integrating which can be a problem.

“Now there will be more focus on what we are trying to do from the first day of pre-season which is get automatic promotion.”