KAYDEN Jackson admits he would find it hard to turn down the chance of Championship football as he continues to be linked with a move away from Accrington Stanley.

The striker is interesting a host of clubs, with Ipswich Town among the frontrunners fighting for the 24 -year-old's signature.

But Jackson has a year remaining on his contract with the Reds and Stanley will not let the frontman, who scored 16 goals last season, leave on the cheap.

He has featured regularly in pre-season for John Coleman's side and has remained professional throughout a summer of speculation.

Stanley open their League One campaign against Gillingham on Saturday while the transfer window closes next Thursday.

On the speculation Jackson told the Lancashire Telegraph: "That is football, it shows that I have done something right and it shows the team did something right.

"If the team didn't do well then I definitely would not have done as well. Interest from elsewhere is just a part of football.

"Whatever happens we have had a good year and I am sure we will have a good season this year as well."

On whether a move to the Championship would be difficult to turn down, Jackson said: "Nothing is guaranteed in football. If you do get the chance, whether you are a player or a manager, you can't just let it go by.

"If the chance arises then I would love to have an opportunity but whatever happens I want to make sure I am enjoying my football next season and want to try and do well."

Jackson's Stanley teammate Sean McConville signed a new three-year deal with the Reds this week while Mark Hughes has also penned fresh terms.

So have those two and others been advising Jackson to remain in East Lancashire?

"In the ideal world when you win the league the whole team stays together and you go again and try and achieve something again," he said. "All the lads want everyone to stay together and do well this season."

Jackson arrived at the Wham Stadium as something of an unknown when he made the move from Barnsley and he admits that whatever happens in the coming days, he will owe Accrington a huge debt of gratitude.

"This time last year I came in as a trialist and things were a little bit uncertain as to whether I was going back to Barnsley with the Under-23s or coming here," he said.

"Thankfully I took my chance pretty well and at the end of it we got a bit of silverware which was a dream come true. I am glad that everything came together and that I signed and I am looking forward to the future now."

He added: "The club gave me an opportunity and thankfully I took it, I don't think I could have worked any harder for the team or myself.

"Last season is easily the best season I have had so far, it could be the best season I will ever have in football.

"I will always be thankful for the opportunity I got. However long I am here, if I am here for a year, a week or 10 years, then I will always give my all to the club because they helped me become the player I have become today."

Should Jackson remain with the Reds - and all bids so far have been rebuffed - then he believes John Coleman's side can look forward to a season of promise in League One given their successes of last year and a pre-season which included wins over Huddersfield Town, Middlesbrough and Blackburn Rovers.

"I am looking forward to the start of the season," said Jackson.

"We have a tough pre-season behind us. It was a good pre-season. There were a few big games and plenty of good results so it was very good. We didn't shock ourselves but I think we shocked a few people watching.

"All eyes are on August 4 and the first game of the season. This is what you work hard for and this is the bread and butter.

"I think because of the success we had last year anything over than a good start will be disappointing to us. We are used to winning and we won a lot of games last season and we want to continue that in League One."