ACCRINGTON Stanley are hoping to pull off an audacious swoop for Australian international goalkeeper Jason Petkovic.

The 31-year-old Perth Glory stopper is one of the stars of the Australian National Soccer League, which was disbanded at the end of last season.

That effectively made all players free agents until a restructuring of the league begins again in 2005.

And Reds bosses have wasted no time pouncing to try and persuade Petkovic to join Stanley in the wake of a goalkeeping conundrum.

Stanley chairman Eric Whalley confirmed: "We are in talks with Jason. I was alerted to his availability through an Australian cricket colleague of mine and when we looked at his pedigree, we thought it would be worth pursuing.

"He has played for his country and in all my time in sport, I have never met an Aussie who is not a complete athlete.

"He is fit and competitive and the fact we are looking at Jason proves we are not content to just sit around and wait for players.

"We are prepared to spread the net far and wide to achieve our aim of getting back into the Football League."

Stanley are currently without a keeper for next season as talks over a new deal for Jon Kennedy rumble on in the wake of Jamie Speare leaving the club this summer.

And six-foot stopper Petkovic certainly carries all the credentials to be a success if he makes the switch to the English game.

The former Adelaide City ace has earned 16 caps for the Socceroos and was the 2003/04 NSL (National Soccer League) goalkeeper of the year, having helped Perth to secure back to back championship wins and setting a new career record of clean sheets.

Petkovic, who has previously had trials with both Southampton and Norwegian outfit Rosenborg, is also third in the all-time record appearance list for Perth, having played 145 games in his five years with the club.