ACCRINGTON Stanley fear Peter Cavanagh and Robbie Williams may have to wait until after the start of next season for their personal hearings into FA betting charges.

Cavanagh and Williams - along with former Stanley players David Mannix, Jay Harris and Andy Mangan - were all charged last month with betting against the Reds in their 2-0 home defeat to Bury in May 2008.

All five players denied the charges in formal responses to the FA last week and they are now set for personal hearings with an independent regulatory commission.

But the complex nature of the case means it could drag on beyond the start of the Football League season on August 8.

That would present a problem with both players out of contract, meaning the Reds may offer the pair new contracts with a clause that allows them to be sacked if they are found guilty.

Chris Turner is expected to put pen to paper in the next couple of days on a two-year deal agreed last week, with Jimmy Ryan’s two-year contract also finalised and waiting to be signed.

Phil Edwards and Kenny Arthur have been offered new deals, with John Coleman set to resume discussions with other members of his squad when he returns from a holiday in Turkey on Tuesday.

But, with the playing budget cut by 25 per cent next season because of financial restrictions, general manager Dave O’Neill says some players will have to accept reduced wages if they are to stay.

Asked whether Coleman had started to make moves to bring in new players for next season, O’Neill said: “Not yet. It depends on negotiations and until he knows whether players will accept a reduced wage or an improved contract in some cases.

“It would be fair to say some will have to take pay cuts. But of course not all the players are on the same deals at the moment.”

A touring Hungarian side could be one of Stanley’s opponents during pre-season.

Fixtures have not yet been finalised but the Reds are expected to face former Football League club FC Halifax Town as well as taking on Burnley in their traditional pre-season game in July.