ACCRINGTON Stanley boss John Coleman has warned his players that their cup runs this season will count for nothing as they bid to secure promotion to League One.

Stanley failed to win a single game in the FA Cup, Carling Cup or Johnstone’s Paint Trophy last season but claimed a total of seven victories in the three competitions during the current campaign.

Three of those came against League One sides – Walsall, Oldham and Gillingham – and that has done much to suggest the quality is there to achieve promotion if they can remain consistent in League Two for the rest of the season.

But Stanley’s cup exploits are now over for another season after their FA Cup fourth-round exit to Premier League Fulham last weekend, having previously reached the the Carling Cup second round and the northern semi final of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

The Reds go into this afternoon’s tricky league fixture at Shrewsbury Town sitting 11th in League Two with games in hand on the sides above them.

“Unfortunately you don’t get promoted on what you do in the cup,” said Coleman.

“There are plenty of teams who have gone very far in cups and gone down.”

Reports continue to link Preston with a £100,000 bid for Michael Symes but it is understood that the Deepdale club are not planning an offer.

Stanley had had no new interest in Symes yesterday and turned down a £100,000 bid from Grimsby last week.