JIMMY Bell has warned nephew Sean McConville that he would be making ‘a terrible career move’ if he decides to quit Accrington Stanley and join Stockport.

McConville is currently out of contract but had been close to finalising a new deal with Stanley before this week receiving the offer of a significantly higher salary at Stockport, who announced on their website yesterday that they expect to sign the 22-year-old by the weekend.

Stanley would be due a fee because McConville is under 24 but have rejected a bid from Stockport – understood to be less than the £30,000 figure reported – and instead want to keep the former Skelmersdale player, who trained with Accrington as normal yesterday.

Stockport, who also want former Stanley duo John Miles and Leighton McGivern, have new financial backing and are now managed by Dietmar Hamann, but the club were relegated to the Blue Square Bet Premier in May.

Reds assistant boss Bell, also McConville’s uncle, said yesterday: “He’ll be making his decision in the next day or two.

“It’s his decision, whether he wants more money or a better career.

“I think it would be a terrible career move for him.

“Sean has done very well for us and I’d expect he would have another good season and go on to play higher than League Two. I’ve told him and told him what I think he should do.

“But, like in any walk of life, if someone offers you a lot more money it turns your head.”

During chief executive Rob Heys’ expedition to climb Kilimanjaro for charity, Reds president Peter Marsden has been handling negotiations with Scunthorpe and Shrewsbury over fees for the departed Jimmy Ryan and Terry Gornell.

Marsden is keen to hold out for as high a sum as possible, saying about both deals: “They can either pay a fair price or it will go to a tribunal.”

Stanley have also lost Alex Cisak, Phil Edwards and Joe Jacobson but Bell has insisted in the last few days that both he and boss John Coleman remain determined to rebuild the squad, contrary to a report suggesting Coleman may consider his future.

“We relish the challenge,” said Bell. “We have been in this situation a lot of times before we move on like we always do and try to do our best for Accrington.

"We haven’t spoken at all about John resigning.”