SHAKERS striker Lutel James has joined UniBond League Accrington Stanley on a free transfer.

The 29-year-old, who was out of contract at Gigg Lane, has put pen to paper on a two-year-deal at the Crown Ground.

James failed to pin down a regular first team place under current Shakers boss Andy Preece after former manager Neil Warnock snapped him up from Stanley's UniBond Premier League rivals Hyde United.

But after turning down a one-year deal with the Shakers James is hoping a stint in the UniBond will improve his options.

"Lutel goes with all our good wishes. Since I have been manager I haven't had a bit of trouble from him, he was a model professional," said Shakers boss Andy Preece.

"But in the 2 years he had been at the club he didn't start many games and he wants first team football.

"That's something I couldn't promise him at Gigg Lane and although he was offered a one year contract he made the decision to leave and I respect him for that."

Preece's opposite number at the Crown Ground, John Coleman - a long time admirer of the St Kitts international - was delighted to have boosted his squad with a player of James' pedigree.

"We made an inquiry last year but it didn't go anywhere," he said.

"He did think long and hard about dropping out of the league and it was something that concerned him but he wants first team football.

"He knows he could use this as a stepping stone to launch his career again.

"He has been impressed with the club, he knows we are ambitious and I have been speaking to him for about three weeks about a possible move and we finally sealed it over the weekend."

James concurred with his new boss's vision for Stanley and admitted he wouldn't have signed for just any non-league club.

"I know how ambitious Accrington are and I was very impressed with John Coleman," he said.

"Although I may have been signed to a Football League club you don't feel as though you are a professional if you are playing in the reserves regularly.

"I want to be involved in first team football and I'm looking forward to helping Accrington make the rise to the Nationwide Conference."

James - who scored a cracking goal in the Save Our Shakers fundraising match at Accrington in February - will find himself facing his old teammates next week as the Shakers take on Stanley in a pre-season friendly at the Crown Ground next Tuesday evening (7.30pm).