ACCRINGTON Stanley striker Paul Mullin may not get a heroes welcome when he returns to his old hunting ground Radcliffe Borough -- but Reds boss John Coleman thinks he deserves it.

Stanley bought Mullin for around £15,000 earlier this season from UniBond First Division side Boro after months of chasing him.

It will be the Stanley striker's first game back at Stainton Park on Saturday when the two clash in the FA Umbro Trophy second round.

"They'll probably have a few words to say to him but he has nothing to be worried about," said Coleman.

"He did a great job for them, scored some good goals and made them some money. I think he should really return to a heroes welcome."

Mullin, who has found the back of the net 12 times this season for Stanley, is just hoping to avoid some stick from the home fans.

"You do wonder what reaction you will get, and I don't know really what to expect but hopefully I won't be booed.

"When I was still at Radcliffe and we played Stanley in the league last season, there were about 1000 on and 800 were Accrington fans soo hopefully they'll stick up for me!

"But I have good memories from my time at Radcliffe, I scored 40 goals in my two seasons there, I still speak to the manager and some of the players.

"Hopefully we'll beat them and it will be a happy return!" Mullin almost linked up with a former Boro colleague when Stanley made a bid for midfielder Simon Carden this week.

It was turned down by Radcliffe although Coleman has not given up his chase.

"I'm always looking for players who I think will fit into our squad and Simon would be a good acquisition," admitted the Reds boss.

"We have always had a good relationship with Radcliffe Borough.

"I speak to their manager Kevin Glendon regularly and he has told us he will keep us informed if the situation changes."

But the two bosses won't be too friendly for 90 minutes on Saturday when Coleman looks to get his side's season back on track.

They have lost their last two games on their travels forcing Coleman, after the latest UniBond Premier League defeat at Runcorn, to threaten his players with putting them all on the transfer list.

"I do have a good squad here. We just haven't played to our potential recently, especially away, but we are going to work on it.

"The players are disappointed with themselves and the game can't come early enough for them."

But it won't be easy against a Radcliffe side who are fresh from FA Cup exploits -- reaching the first round for the first time in their 51 year history before losing to York City.

"They've had a good cup run, they are finding their feet, will be up for it and it will make for a good game," said the Reds boss.

Coleman has reached the Trophy quarter-finals as a player with Morecambe and as a manager with Ashton.

"You can go a long way in the competition, hopefully the Conference sides will start knocking each other out, we'll get a good draw and it will give us a chance to make a name for ourselves."