ACCRINGTON Stanley have signalled their intention to be debt free by the end of next week after boss John Coleman hailed the way his players coped with another wage setback before Tuesday’s win over Southend.

The Reds squad have seen a portion of their salary delayed due to financial problems dating back to before Ilyas Khan’s takeover of the club last week.

The situation was not resolved in the hours before Tuesday’s game, as Coleman had hoped, but Khan has already provided money for some debts and has told key figures at Stanley that he plans to make the club debt free by the end of next week.

After Tuesday’s win Coleman said: “I’m really pleased for the players because we had another kick in the teeth. They were supposed to be paid but they didn’t get paid.

“They’ve got mortgages to pay and families to feed but they’re showing a remarkable professionalism. I can’t praise them enough.”