PAUL Mullin is confident his eye for goal will be just as sharp in the Nationwide Conference.

The Accrington Stanley centre forward netted 24 league goals in a fearsome partnership with Lutel James last season - a significant strike-rate which helped clinch the UniBond Premier Division title.

Now the 29-year-old is looking to make sure Stanley do themselves justice as they start a new chapter in their famous history.

"Whether I'll get as many goals as last season remains to be seen," Mullin said.

"It's good to still have Lutel with me though because we are used to each other after playing up front for the last couple of years. We know each other's runs and movements, so that gives you extra confidence.

"We don't know yet who the manager will start with next season, but I'm confident that if we're picked we can score goals in the Conference."

And Mullin revealed that James agreeing to stay at the Crown Ground, despite attention from Football League clubs, was important to his own decision to sign new terms.

"Lutel cost me a fortune in mobile phone calls," Mullin joked.

"We keep in touch anyway to be honest but our immediate futures played an important part in both our decisions to stay.

"It's unusual to get on so well with someone you play up front with, although there is competition between us - but it's healthy. There's not any nastiness.

"We both wanted to sign but things had to be right and the club have certainly shown they wanted us to stay, so we've committed ourselves to the club."

Mullin added he was eager for the new season to get under way and was looking forward to Stanley's Sky television debut at Aldershot on the opening day of the season next month.

"We've made some good signings in Paul Cook and Gordon Armstrong and I think they'll settle in well.

"We've got a good mix of age groups in the squad and their experience will count because it's going to be a hard season.

"Cooky took training on Tuesday night and you can certainly tell he knows what he's talking about, so they will be good voices in the dressing room, like Mike Marsh was for us last season."