ACCRINGTON favourite David Lloyd is delighted to see his hometown club back among the silverware after playing his part in the transformation of the Thorneyholme Road club.

Accrington finished last season bottom of the Lancashire League and facing possible extinction due to financial problems.

But after Lloyd put his hand in his own pocket and helped front a fund-raising drive to save the club, David Ormerod’s men have responded by completing the double of league and Worsley Cup.

“I’m absolutely delighted with the success they’ve had after such a dismal time for a long time,” said Lloyd, who was part of the 1986 Worsley Cup winning team in his second spell as an Accrington player.

“The club has been shaken up a bit and there is still a fair bit to go. There are one or two things that need to be put right but it’s been a really good effort from all of them. There’s been a pretty good backbone to the team and a lot of characters in there.”

Lloyd’s son Graham and captain David Ormerod played huge parts with bat and ball to lead Accrington to glory and despite calling into question the cost effectiveness of professionals to their clubs, Lloyd was also impressed with the contribution of paid man Roy Silva.

“He must have been mesmerised when he first got here,” added the former Lancashire and England batsman.

“His record is modest but he’s fitted in perfectly and he’s been a credit to Sri Lanka. He’s always at practice and gets stuck in in the nets and with the mopping up and they’re delighted with him.”

Silva has agreed terms for next season and Lloyd, 61, also plans to make himself available when work commitments allow following a brief comeback earlier this summer.

He said: “I’ll be fit enough and I’ve said to the captain if he does not pick me I’ll look for another club!

“It’s taken me back a number of years and I’ve enjoyed my involvement