ACCRINGTON Stanley will become a full-time professional club in July.

And manager John Coleman believes the move will be key to the Reds' progress in the Nationwide Conference and bid to earn promotion to the Football League.

"I think it's the way forward because I think you can do a lot more," said Coleman, who will have to step down from his job as a primary school teacher once the club does turn professional.

"Certainly coaching wise we've been a little bit restricted, We've had a lot of travelling over the last couple of weeks with the FA Cup.

"Pitches have also been flooded so we haven't been able to get on the training pitch often enough and one or two things we'd like to iron out in a few areas of the park we haven't been able to do, and I think if you're full time you can do that."

He added: "For a part-time club we have a fit set of lads and I think they should take a lot of credit for that because they look after themselves."

Coleman confirmed that all the players who will be offered contracts next term will be expected to become full-time professionals, meaning they will have to leave their current day jobs.

"We'll be speaking to all the players over the next couple of months," Coleman said.

"I personally think it's something that you've got to go the whole hog and do - there aren't any half measures.

"So the whole staff will have to go full-time, that includes myself, Jimmy (Bell) and the players, and we'll sit down with all parties concerned and talk about it."

Negotiations to find a local site to use as a training facility are at an advanced stage.

Stanley chairman Eric Whalley added: "There is the top-half of the table who, bar Aldershot and ourselves, are full-time and the bottom-half who are all part-time. I'm not saying you can't get promoted, and hopefully Aldershot and ourselves will get into the play-offs as part-time teams, but it is much harder.

"Having the players with us during the week means we can work with them much closer and opens up many more oportunities to develop closer links with the local community"

The move has been made possible by the cash boost from this year's FA Cup run.