JOHN Coleman does not believe Accrington Stanley’s national image is the reason why they have struggled to bring in players in recent weeks.

For all Coleman’s good work in bringing the club from the UniBond League to League Two during his decade in charge, many across the country still regard as a quaint little club punching above their weight.

It is an unfair stereotype and one that rivals such as Notts County and Grimsby are not tainted with.

Notts County boss Ian McParland told his players last week that they should be performing better at home because ‘with no disrespect, I’d rather be running out here than somewhere like Accrington Stanley every week’.

And Stanley were picked out again when Republic of Ireland Under 21 boss Don Givens explained why his side were struggling.

With remarks that were less than flattering to Stanley or midfielder Jimmy Ryan, he said: “It is important to put things into perspective because we have lads in our squad who are with clubs like Accrington Stanley.”

Hosting a radio show in Accrington in November, BBC broadcaster Jonathan Dimbleby said he had been told by locals to mention that Stanley were a national symbol of a ‘plucky but hopeless cause’.

It did not go down well with the audience.

And yet, despite all this, Coleman believes Stanley’s reputation as a footballing side means it is finance rather than image that has hampered their transfer dealings as they bid to bolster their depleted squad.

He said: “I think if you speak to a lot of people about League Two, they’ll all sing our praises about how good our football is so I don’t think we’ve got a problem image wise.

“But it’s hard. We haven’t got a lot of money to play with so we can’t go out and buy players.

“It’s difficult but you have to be selective with where you’re targeting.

“We’re looking everywhere and hopefully we’ll get the right players in.”

Coleman this week confirmed an interest in Carlisle striker Danny Carlton but the 25-year-old – also attracting interest from Bury, Bradford and his old club Morecambe – now looks set to move to Darlington.

That may, however, allow Gregg Blundell to leave the north east club and return to Stanley on loan.