Seamus Conneely is expecting a competitive edge to Stanley’s pre-season training as they step up preparations for life in League One.

Conneely skippered the side to the League Two title in 2017/18 with Stanley playing third tier football for the first time since reforming in 1968.

The Reds will learn their opponents for the new season, which kicks off on August 4, on Thursday when the EFL fixtures are announced.

Stanley will then return to pre-season training and put in the hard yards ahead of the new campaign.

And the 29-year-old midfielder said: “There might be a little bit of an edge to pre-season and more competitiveness but I don’t know, everyone wants to be in that team on the first day of the season but that was the same last year.

“I suppose if the gaffer brings in three or four players then the standard might just go up a little bit.

“That might make you work a little bit harder and we will see what happens.”

Stanley have added Will Wood to their squad since promotion, with the defender joining from Southampton.

Boss John Coleman is looking to add a new goalkeeper to his ranks following the departure of Aaron Chapman to Peterborough United after he turned down a new deal at the Wham Stadium.

Conneely accepts losing the 28-year-old is a blow, but has confidence in Jonny Maxted who filled in for Chapman in the one game he missed last season.

He has wished the Yorkshireman well, after his 18 clean sheets helped Stanley to promotion, apart from the two meetings with Posh next season.

“I was good friends with Chappy, he had a good season and he got the golden glove,” said the skipper.

“I wish him well except when when we play against him next year.

“I have seen an interview with the gaffer where one of his big targets is to get a goalkeeper to compete with Jonny (Maxted) for that No.1 spot.”

Conneely signed in the summer of 2015 and is gearing up for his fourth successive season in a Stanley shirt.

His next appearance will be his 150th for the club since joining from Sligo Rovers, and Conneely is happy with life in East Lancashire.

He said: “I am very settled, I live just up the road. I am very happy.

“My wife is happy and we have a little boy who has just turned one so we are very settled.”