RECORD signing Gary Williams has stunned Accrington Stanley officials by slapping in a transfer request.

The £25,000 capture from Doncaster Rovers delivered the bombshell in the wake of Tuesday night's 3-0 defeat at the hands of Colwyn Bay.

And, after calling an emergency board meeting to discuss what action to take on Thursday night, Stanley have now agreed to the request in a move which will leave Reds fans devastated.

"Basically, Gary feels he wants to play in the Conference and he has asked if his name can be circulated to other clubs," said Stanley boss John Coleman today.

"So we've agreed to do that because I only want people here who want to play for Accrington Stanley.

"If his heart's not in it then I'll shake his hand and let him go if someone comes in and makes us an acceptable offer.

"Obviously, I'm disappointed because I've bought him three times but, at the end of the day, football's football and you can't let it become personal." Initially signed by Coleman in a four-figure deal from Ashton two seasons ago, Williams became a huge fans favourite at the Crown Ground, scoring a raft of goals in his debut season to earn a club record £60,000 move to Doncaster.

But he never fully settled at the Conference club so, when Coleman had the chance to buy him by last season, he did so in a cut-price £25,000 deal.

A niggling spate of injuries, however, meant he never recaptured his original form.

So, in a bid to get him fit and ready for the new campaign, Stanley arranged for the 21-year-old to spend the summer in America, playing for New Jersey Barons.

It has therefore come as a bolt out of the blue that he has now asked to move barely a month after his return and Coleman admits he is still trying to take it all in.

"I was surprised, I've got to admit, but people make their own decisions for whatever reason feels right at the time," said Coleman. "I certainly think he's making a mistake because we share the same ambition as him which is to get into the Conference and I was hoping he was going to help us to get there.

"But maybe he thinks we've had a poor start to the season and we are not going to do it this year, I just don't know."

Stanley were hoping to mount a serious assault on the UniBond League title this term but, after a faltering start, they now have it all to do.

Coleman, however, insists he will get it right, given time.

"I don't think we've suddenly become a bad side over night.

"We haven't had the results our performances have deserved but you can't keep bemoaning your bad luck.

"You've got to be positive and try and put things right.

"Conceding 16 goals in six games is far too many but that's something we can put right with a little hard work and concentration."