Accrington Stanley are hoping to use the team's turbulent histo-ry and the power of the internet to gain a following of fans in Asia.

The club wants to snap up a share of the football crazy Asian market, currently dominated by sporting giants such as Manchester United, Barcelona and Real Madrid.

The Hong Kong-based pu-blisher Barry Grindrod came up with the idea of creating a dedicated Asian website for the club when Stanley were promoted back into the Football League at the end of last season.

Mr Grindrod, a self-confessed Burnley fan, said: "I started to think it would be a great challenge to introduce this little club with a long standing soccer tradition to the hurly burly of Asia's soccer arena."Last year was a remarkable achievement and reflects so well on Stanley's fiscal management off the field as well as their performances on it.

"When I approached the club with the idea they were all for it which, again, shows their great tenacity and ambition."

The site, written in English, charts the club's history and provides full details on the latest results fixtures and player profiles.

A mirror site in Chinese is being considered, as is merchandise with the most famous little club in the world' inscribed on them in different languages.

New fans can also log on to the forum section of the site to chat with fellow followers across the globe.

Accrington Stanley will get their own first taste of the Orient when Chinese team Chengdu Blades visit the Fraser Eagle Stadium on January 9 to play in a friendly match.

The China League team's trip will help boost the East Lancashire club's profile in Asia and will be charted on the website.

Stanley's chief executive Rob Heys believes the club can benefit from the Asian adventure.

He said: "It would be nice to get a piece of the action in Asia. Obviously we will not be looking to woo fans away from the major clubs but we see ourselves as an alternative, a chance for the fans to support the little club - the underdog."

Mr Grindrod added: "Accrington Stanley already has many fans around the world but through this dedicated Asian web site we hope to attract many, many more and, who knows, it may help to attract some of Asia's better players to the club."

To visit the website go to www.accringtonstanle- yasia.com