EFL status the top priority as Stanley Academy closes

ACCRINGTON Stanley bosses have assured supporters the club is committed to maintaining EFL status and improving on last season’s performance - despite the closure of the Reds’ successful Academy.

- RICHARD PARTINGTON & JON MACPHERSON

The club's Academy officially closed this week and, while the club admitted that represented 'a challenging period; they insisted 'focus and strategy for the first team remain resolute!

Stanley boss John Doolan has already been active in the market as he looks to improve on last season's 21st place finish - a position the club described as 'closer than we had hoped' to the drop zone.

New signings are unlikely to be announced before June 1, when most current contracts run out, but Stanley have already lined up one of National League North's top mid-fielders, Curzon Ashton's Isaac Sinclair, 23, son of former England winger Trevor.

The club cited “severe financial challenges” as the driving force behind the decision to close the Academy, with bosses insisting they had “no option but to implement difficult yet necessary cuts.”

The League Two club announced earlier this month that it would be forced to close the academy, leaving the community “heartbroken” and “devastated”, and the EFL has been officially informed of the “difficult decision”.

It comes after a heated row with Hyndburn Council over the loss of revenue from the use of club facilities for non-matchday events.

The authority recently revoked its entertainment licence following noise complaints from neighbours. Club owner Andy Holt accused the council of having a “vendetta” against the club due to a long-running row over the club's hospitality suites, which were built in contravention of planning permission.