ACCRINGTON Stanley have revealed they have had no approaches for star midfielder Jimmy Ryan – and have no plans to sell any of their players during the January transfer window.

Stanley added to an already strong midfield with the signings of Ian Craney and Joe Jacobson before the recent Football League loan deadline, and there was speculation among fans about whether the club were bringing in cover in case they lost players in January.

Craney’s best position is as an attacking central midfielder – also the preferred role of Ryan, who has been Stanley’s star man this season.

But the club say they have had no enquiries for 22-year-old Ryan, whose contract expires at the end of the current campaign but is soon to be offered a new deal.

Under the terms of the Bosman ruling Ryan would not be able to leave for free in the summer in any case because he is under the age of 24, but he could go for a cut-price fee – as happened with Bobby Grant in June.

“The big selling point would be Jimmy Ryan but we’ve had no enquires about him at all,” said Stanley assistant boss Jimmy Bell.

“Clubs would have to pay for him in the summer because he’s under 24, but we want to keep him and he’s happy here so I’m sure he will stay.”

Stanley loaned out fringe players Craig Lindfield and Tom Smyth to Kidderminster and Workington respectively to create the funds to sign Craney and Jacobson but, although they may look at similar temporary deals in January, they insist they do not need to sell any of their best players.

And Bell is confident Craney and Ryan can play in the same side thanks to the flexibility of the Reds’ 4-2-3-1 formation this season, which sees the three players behind lone striker Terry Gornell frequently rotating during a match.

“Ian can play in one of the holding midfield roles but ideally he would be better in one of the three attacking roles and he could play in any of those three roles,” said Bell.

“We just wanted to strengthen the squad with Ian and Joe. We are tight with the budget and it might be that we have to let one or two out on loan in January, but we don’t want to sell anyone.

“Although of course if someone comes in with a good offer we would always have to look at it. That’s just the type of club we have to be.”