ACCRINGTON Stanley hope the temporary resolution of their £300,000 tax bill will allow them to keep their squad together for next season.

Out-of-contract goalkeeper Kenny Arthur last week opted to join Rochdale amid the uncertainty at Stanley but soon afterwards the Reds came to an agreement with HM Customs and Revenue to adjourn winding up proceedings.

Stanley must now maintain monthly payments of around £25,000 to prevent further problems but they hope a period of limbo has now been ended.

A number of players – most notably Andy Procter – have stalled over new contract offers and only three players are currently signed on for next season.

But chief executive Rob Heys is confident that Stanley can now begin to make progress.

“We can start concentrating on running the football club day to day now,” he said.

“The tax situation was all encompassing. I was dreaming about tax and waking up thinking about it.

“We had always said to the players that we were confident of reaching an agreement.

"Maybe they didn’t all believe us but hopefully the agreement, not just for players but supporters and hopefully sponsors as well, will put people’s minds at ease.”

And Heys has backed boss John Coleman to replace Arthur, even though the keeper’s departure came as a blow.

“We were just disappointed that we found out on a website but we regard Kenny as a friend and we wish him all the best,” he said.

“It will leave a gap but that’s one of John’s challenges.

"He’s proved he can do it before and I’m sure he will rise to the challenge.”

Stanley will have the problem of fielding seven substitutes next season after the the Football League voted to increase the number from five, with only three allowed to be used.