John Coleman admits he is expecting a ‘hard summer’ as talks start with out-of-contract players and new targets.

The Reds secured their Football League status after their 1-1 draw with Hartlepool on Tuesday and, while Coleman is still looking at winning the last three games, he is also looking ahead.

Stanley take on play-off chasing Stevenage on Saturday in their penultimate home game of the campaign.

“We do have quite a few players out-of-contract although we have the nucleus of a good side here,” said Coleman.

“We have got to try and get the ones signed up we want and also look at our targets although they have got to be better players than what we have at the club already.

“It is going to be a hard summer, but I am no different to any other manager, and we have got to make it a rewarding one.

“We have started talks with Piero Mingoia but he wants to see out the season and finish strongly before we take our discussions any further so we will speak to him when the season ends.”

Mingoia is the top scorer with eight goals this season while the players in contract are Dean Winnard, Josh Windass, Terry Gornell, Andy Procter, Seamus Conneely, Matt Crooks and James Gray, who is currently on loan at Northampton.

Coleman has admitted he was disappointed his side were battling at the bottom end of the table as they had got to the fringe of the play-offs late last year.

“We have a group of players here who should be competing at the top end of the table and we could compete with anyone in the promotion spots on our day,” said the Reds boss.

“But we have not been consistent enough and we have conceded horrendous goals – our ‘goals against’ column says it all and if we had a positive goal difference we would have been challenging higher up.

“It is something we have got to eradicate next season.”