Accrington Stanley have made an audacious swoop for Everton star David Ginola.

The French wing wizard had been told he can leave Everton before transfer deadline day on Thursday -- prompting the Reds to lodge an official enquiry for the Gallic genius.

"We made an enquiry," said manager John Coleman, whose side are currently fourth in the UniBond Premier Division.

"But it's obviously tongue in cheek. I think Everton have treated it with the disdain it deserves as we haven't heard anything back from them!

"Ginola's looking for a game so the chairman Eric Whalley thought he'd ask about his availability!"

Ginola, 35, who has 17 French caps to his name, is thought to be on £25,000 a week - financial demands which would stretch Stanley to the limit although they did recently bank £200,000 from the sale of Brett Ormerod to Southampton.

"Finances are nothing to do with me, the budget is Eric's department," continued Coleman.

"But to be honest, Ginola would have real trouble displacing Russell Payne in the side anyway! That is a tall order.

"And the wings could be a bit too heavy for him!

"We do not take ourselves too seriously here and it is only a bit of fun. But it would be nice if he came.

"It was worth a try, anyway."

Chairman Whalley confirmed he put the question to the Goodison Park board on Friday.

"We faxed through and we are waiting to hear," said the Crown Ground chief. "We feel that it's better that he plays here rather than kicking his heels at Everton. He might as well be playing here than nowhere at all.

"We are going to put it to Everton that we will pay a percentage of his wages and I am expecting a phone call from Everton or his agent.

"It is a serious offer as he would bring a lot of women and of course charisma to the Crown Ground. They have French players everywhere else, so why not in the UniBond League?

"And he would be eligible for our two cup finals."

Obviously the former Toulouse, Racing Club Paris, Brest, Paris St Germain, Newcastle, Tottenham and Aston Villa player will be able to play in the UniBond League Cup final and the FA Lancashire Marsden final - if Stanley pull off a coup of Gazza proportions!

The Everton press office said: "We can confirm that we have received an official bid from Accrington Stanley for David Ginola but he will be remaining at Goodison until the end of the season."

And Ginola himself said recently that he wanted to stay at Everton and fight for his place following the appointment of David Moyes.

That's not what Stanley fans wanted to hear!