JIMMY Bell has warned Accrington Stanley must guard against the Morecambe effect next season – but he has insisted that remaining in the Football League will still be an achievement for the club.

Stanley finished fifth during the 2010/11 campaign but were beaten by Stevenage in the play-off semi finals and will again operate with possibly the lowest budget in League Two next term.

The Reds will be playing their sixth successive season in the Football League and Bell is keen to avoid a hangover from their play-off defeat, with Lancashire rivals Morecambe finishing 20th this term after losing in the end-of-season shoot-out a year ago.

“A year ago Morecambe were in a very similar situation to us,” said Stanley assistant manager Bell, who says the club are keen to bring in ‘four or five’ new additions this summer.

“They had a great season and finished fourth but didn’t go up and they found it difficult this year. We can’t let that happen to us.

“But we will probably be tipped to go down again and the first priority, as it always will be at Accrington, is to stay in the Football League.

“That is a real achievement for this club. It is like winning the pools.

“With the budget and the crowds, this club shouldn’t be in the Football League. We just should not be there.”