FORMER Accrington Stanley striker Gary Williams says he was ready to quit football - until Rossendale United threw him a soccer lifeline.

Williams has dropped down a division to sign for the Dark Lane club but says that he is not worried - he just wants to enjoy his football again.

And he hopes to be back in the UniBond Premier Division with Dale, who paid a four-figure sum for his services, by the time his two-year contract comes to an end in 2004.

"Jim (McCluskie, the Rossendale manager) and the chairman (Andrew Connolly) are obviously very ambitious and I hope we have a good season this year," said Williams, who travels to Ossett Town with his new side tonight.

"When Jim asked me to sign for them I took a bit of convincing because I was about to pack it all in.

"But after about 20 minutes he convinced me. He wants to get into the UniBond Premier and he's hoping to sign a couple of more players.

"I don't know if we will get promoted this season but certainly within two years."

Williams, still just 23, has been through a lot in his career - from making his debut as a 17-year-old for Conference side Morecambe to securing a £60,000 move to Doncaster three seasons ago. But the move to Doncaster didn't work out and Williams moved back to Stanley for a fee of around £25,000.

He struggled with injuries and while in America trying to get himself fit, Reds boss John Coleman brought in the experienced Lutel James who went immediately into the side.

When Williams returned he slapped in a transfer request and barely featured in the side for months, before finally coming off the list and getting back into the Reds team at the back end of last season.

But he couldn't displace James or Paul Mullin and Williams' Stanley career came to an end after he was told the Reds would not be offering him an extension to his contract.

"I spoke to John (Coleman, the Stanley manager) and Eric (Whalley, the chairman) after the pre-season game against Clitheroe and they said they wanted me to stay but couldn't keep me on a contract which is no good for me," said Williams, who works part-time as a sales assistant at a JJB Sports.

"So John told Jim I was available. I had an offer from Bradford Park Avenue as well but with Rossendale being more local I decided to go with them.

"I didn't mind dropping down a division as long as I'm enjoying my football again.

"I didn't have the best season when I went back to Stanley but I thought I was sharp in pre-season this year and I thought I'd done well.

"But it was hard because John wants to play Paul Mullin and Lutel James.

"John decided to put me out wide and that's not my best position but I think I did a decent job there but I didn't want to carry on because I wasn't enjoying it."

Dale opened the season with a 1-0 defeat at Chorley on Saturday.

"It wasn't the best of games. I thought first half they had most of the ball and we weathered the storm well.

"I though we deserved a draw. The lads put a lot of effort in."

Stanley chairman Eric Whalley said: "We wish Gary all the best. I think for Stanley to move up we had to play with somebody a bit more physical. Like any club, it is all about economics and we wish him all the best at Rossendale."

Chorley, whose manager Mark Molyneaux secured his first opening day victory in five seasons as a boss against Dale, travel to Leek Town tonight.

In the North West Counties League, Clitheroe are at home to Warrington Town after they drew on Saturday while Ramsbottom's game at home to Squires Gate has been called off due to the death of a Squires Gate player.

In Division Two, there is a local derby at the Arbories where last season's champions Stand make the trip to Padiham, Darwen entertain Blackpool Mechanics while Nelson welcome Chadderton to Victoria Park.

Bacup travel to Oldham Town while Colne look to pick up three points at Holker Old Boys.