ACCRINGTON Stanley vice chairman Peter Marsden says he feels optimistic about the club’s future after meeting Ilyas Khan in London this week.

Khan is the benefactor behind the Supporters’ Fund, who have offered to pay off all of Stanley’s debts if the club issue new shares, and Marsden’s presence at the meeting was thought not to be as a representative of the club but in his own capacity as a director.

The precise details of the meeting have not yet been disclosed but Marsden, who joined the board after Stanley’s promotion to the Football League and invested a significant amount of money when he later became vice chairman, said: “We had some very harmonious dialogue and saw eye to eye on a number of things.

“First and foremost myself and Ilyas have the club’s best interests at heart.

“It has been a worrying time but I think I can see a bit of light at the end of the tunnel.”

Khan, who like Marsden is based in the London area, said: “We want to work together to help the club. I really enjoyed the meeting with Peter and we both felt the interests of the club outweighed anything else.

“We are determined to do what we can to save the club.”

After several delays, Stanley have now sent off their 2008 accounts to Companies House and expect to complete this year’s accounts shortly.