ACCRINGTON Stanley have adpoted Ipswich Town as their second team after Gary Roberts' transfer to the Tractor Boys included a promotion bonus'.

The talented winger, who the Reds snapped up from non-league Welshpool in February 2005, completed a three-and-a-half-year deal with Ipswich yesterday for an undisclosed fee.

But Stanley stand to gain extra money should the 22-year-old help the Championship outfit achieve promotion to the Premiership.

That could happen as early as this season, with Ipswich just eight points off the play-offs at the start of 2007.

"Gary's got a sell-on fee written into his contract, as well as a promotion bonus for us should they go up, so we're supporting Ipswich from now on," said Stanley chief executive Rob Heys, who expects Ian Craney's sale to Swansea City to go through today following the midfielder's loan spell with the League One club.

However, 50 per cent of that transfer fee will go to Altrincham, the club Craney joined the Reds from ahead of the 2004/05 season.

"They will get half of the net profit, which is a blow because you would rather not pay it," added Heys. "But in the same way we had it when we sold Brett Ormerod (to Blackpool) so you've got to respect it.

"Clauses are a double edged sword because, if it hadn't been written into Craney's contract, we might not have got the player.

"It was the same with his release clause. If he hadn't have had that included then his agent wouldn't have let him sign it."

Stanley are expected make at least £250,000 from the sale of Roberts and Craney, and while Heys said a player budget had already been drafted at the start of the season, the recent list of injuries and suspensions, which have decimated the Stanley squad, could mean that some money from both transfer fees could be made available to boost numbers.

"If there's anything the manager wants it's a case of telling him what we've got," he said.

"Clubs are playing an awful lot more in our league, and as much as it's down to the manager to bring in players, it's down to people behind the scenes to get money into the club."

Heys added: "Some of the money will be spent on ground improvements, with the construction of the Clayton End cover due to be done early this year."