Cook: Contract talks have affected Stanley (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Cook: Contract talks have affected Stanley

9:50am Saturday 5th May 2012 in News By Chris Flanagan, Sports reporter

PAUL Cook wants Accrington Stanley to finish their season with victory and the first clean sheet of his tenure this afternoon – but he admits that his squad have been distracted by contract issues in the final weeks of the campaign.

Stanley host Crawley at the Crown Ground in their final game of the League Two season, still capable of claiming a top half finish if they win and Bristol Rovers slip up at Dagenham.

They slipped to 13th after losing 5-1 at Bristol Rovers last weekend and Cook acknowledges that it has been a difficult period for the squad, with only two players under contract for next season going into the final few matches.

Peter Murphy, Craig Lindfield, Ian Dunbavin, Ryan Hopper, Marcus Carver and Adam Stockdale have all signed deals this week.

“We want to try to enjoy the Crawley game and we certainly want to win and try to get a clean sheet,” said Cook, who is yet to secure a shut-out in 16 matches in charge. “But there is a lot of work going on behind the scenes at the club and sometimes when you get talks with players it can affect performances.”