ACCRINGTON Stanley supremo Eric Whalley today insisted he won't be held to ransom as the Reds look to build a team capable of winning promotion to the Conference next season.

Whalley has promised to provide boss John Coleman with the cash necessary to embark on a major rebuilding programme this summer.

But, after recently being quoted a five-figure sum for striker Phil Eastwood by Morecambe, the Crown Ground chairman has warned rival clubs that he won't be ripped off in the transfer market.

"Whenever a club like us indicate we are interested in a player people automatically try to double the fee," said Whalley.

"But I'm not prepared to be held to ransom.

"Morecambe practically said Phil was surplus to requirements but as soon as they knew we were interested they then started talking about five figure fees.

"I'd like him to come and I'm still hopeful that might happen.

"But we're not going to start paying silly money."

Eastwood is one of several targets manager John Coleman is currently pursuing.

And he's hoping to close in on a UniBond defender later in the next few days after holding talks with the player last week.

"I spoke to a Unibond defender on Friday and he's got to go and speak to his own club now," said Coleman.

"So I'll know more on that, hopefully, by tomorrow.

"And I'm also hoping to speak to another Conference forward this week.

"But I feel we probably need three or four new faces just to freshen things up -- a defender, a striker and a midfielder."

Meanwhile, Coleman has expressed his disappointment at losing utility man Steve Carragher to UniBond rivals Runcorn.

Carragher, who scooped the players' player of the year award at a presentation night last Saturday, has opted to rejoin the Linnets after his contract ran out at Stanley.

And Coleman insists he was powerless to prevent him from leaving.

"I think that was always going to happen because he's good pals with Liam Watson," said Coleman.

"It's still disappointing, though, because he finished the season really strongly and he was probably our most consistent player during that spell.

"But he was playing at right back, which he didn't like, so that might have created problems for me anyway next season."

Stanley's other award winners on Saturday night were: Player of the Year -- Paul Mullin; Supporters' Player of the Year -- Paul Mullin; Young Player of the Year -- Robbie Williams; Reserve Team Player of the Year -- Liam Tate; Youth Team Player of the Year -- Danny Bolton.