JOHN Coleman is hoping to put Accrington Stanley back on the footballing map courtesy of a successful FA Cup run.

Stanley have fallen from grace in recent times and currently find themselves in mid-table of the UniBond League First Division.

But Coleman, who is trying to arrest the slide after taking over at the Crown Ground in the summer, believes cup success will be a short-cut to some welcome positive publicity.

"Stanley have got quite a famous name and if we can get a little run in the cup that is going to attract nationwide coverage which can only be good for the club. We've got to be looking to go as far as we can," he said.

However, Stanley face a difficult second qualifying round tie tomorrow against a Whitby Town side that knocked them out last year and boasts an impressive recent record in the competition, having taken Hull City to a first round replay three seasons ago. "It's not going to be easy. Whitby are a good side but our lads are starting to believe in themselves now and I know they are looking forward to it," added Coleman, who has previously reached the first round proper as a player with both Southport and Morecambe. Stanley have put together a five-match unbeaten run and on Tuesday recorded a morale-boosting league cup win over Stalybridge Celtic, who are 15 places above Whitby in the UniBond Premier Division.

"Whitby haven't had the best of starts but then neither have we, although I don't think we've played that badly," said Coleman, whose side will have to overcome Lancaster City or Fleetwood Freeport away from home to put themselves within one round of the first round proper if they can get past Whitby.

"If you're going to get there you'll have to face a couple of tough games," added the Stanley boss, who is hoping to have striker Mark Shirley back from 'flu but may be without Billy O'Callaghan, who's had a bout of glandular fever.

Former FA Vase winners Whitby finished sixth in the Premier Division last season but are yet to win in the league this time around.

Their first victory of the campaign came in the League Cup on Tuesday night, when manager Harry Dunn was watching Stanley beat Stalybridge Celtic.

However, in striker Paul Pitman they boast a prolific goal-scorer and their current scoring charts are headed by former Stockport, Halifax and Scarborough left-back David Logan.

Stanley's youth team play Old Rochdalians at the Crown Ground on Sunday afternoon (kick-off 2pm) with no admission charge.

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