JOHN Coleman has been set a three-year task to get Accrington Stanley back into the Football League.

The Reds boss and assistant Jimmy Bell have been rewarded for a promising inaugural season in the Nationwide Conference with new three-year contracts.

And chairman Eric Whalley has revealed he had no qualms about offering the management duo what is deemed in modern day football, particularly in non-league circles, as a lengthy deal.

"It's unusual for clubs wanting to get into the Football League to offer such contracts, but we've got to be realistic. We've got to give them a proper chance," he said.

"From going full-time to getting everything in place and hopefully getting into the Football League could take that long.

"Don't get me wrong, we're going to have a real go next season, and if we do it in less than three years that would be great."

And Stanley are set to reveal the players who will be staying at the club next season some time in the next two weeks.

"After Saturday, everybody who will be involved next season will be told," Whalley said.

"There's a very short period between the end of the season and us going full-time so people need to know.

"It will be sad for some but exciting for others. But the key to any good management is not to rest on your laurels.

"There will be one or two surprises I'm sure but we've got to make sure that the people we bring in are better than the ones we've got because that's the only way we'll progress."

Coleman and Bell have revolutionised Stanley since they arrived at Accrington from Ashton United in 1999 after the Reds were relegated to the UniBond First Division.

With the new management team at the helm, they became the first team to regain their Premier Division status in just a season.

And after winning the championship last term, they got off to a flying start in the Conference and even reached the FA Cup third round.