[themaclad]

Accrington Stanley have offered new deals to eight out-of-contract players, including top scorer Jack Nolan.

The 22-year-old winger scored 17 goals in 53 appearances in all competitions for the League Two side this season.

Goalkeeper Toby Savin, 22, defender Connor O'Brien, 22, and midfielders Joe Pritchard, 27, Rosaire Longelo, 24, Seamus Conneely, 35, and Shaun Whalley, 36 have also been offered new terms.

Stanley announced at the weekend that record-appearance maker Sean McConville would be leaving after playing 445 times for the club.

Also departing with the 35-year-old midfielder are goalkeeper Jack McIntrye, 21, defenders Kelvin Mellor, 33, Baba Fernandes, 24, Bailey Sloane, 21, midfielder Korede Adedoyin, 23, and forwards Matt Lowe, 28, Leslie Adekoya, 20, and Jack Massey, 19.

[themaclad]

Experienced Accrington Stanley winger Shaun Whalley has agreed a new one-year contract to stay with the League Two club.

The 36-year-old has made 150 appearances across two spells with Accrington, scoring 18 goals.

He featured 36 times in the league this season, as well as wearing the captain’s armband in six of those.

“I am made up as I wanted to stay,” said , externalWhalley.

“The club has been good for me. It’s been nice to be appreciated by the manager, the Board, and the fans."

Whalley added: “The last couple of years, while the club hasn't done the best, I feel personally I have done quite well. I know I need to be even better next season and get us up the table.”

Whalley, who began his career with Chester almost 20 years ago, also won promotion to League Two with Luton and spent seven years at Shrewsbury before returning to the Wham Stadium in 2022.

Stanley finished 17th in League Two this season under new boss John Doolan, who was appointed permanently in March following the sacking of long-serving John Coleman earlier that month.

[themaclad]

Connor O'Brien has signed a new two-year contract to keep him at Accrington Stanley until 2026.

O'Brien made his debut in February 2023 and has gone on to play 32 games for the first-team.

The teenager, 19, started every match after John Doolan replaced John Coleman as manager of the League Two club in March.

"I'm buzzing, it's been a long time coming," he said. "I'm just happy that we've got it over the line and now I can start preparing for next season.

"It means a lot to me and my family, because everyone supports Accrington

[themaclad]

Boston United striker Kelsey Mooney has signed for Accrington Stanley on a two-year deal.

The 25-year-old striker scored 16 times for the Pilgrims this season, as they won promotion back to the National League via the play-offs.

Mooney is a product of the Aston Villa youth system and the son of former Watford striker Tommy Mooney.

Mooney has also played for Hereford and Leamington as well as having a loan spell at Cheltenham Town, and has 32 goals across 140 career appearances.

Manager John Doolan told the Accrington club website, external: "He looks like a footballer straight away, looks like a number nine, looks like a striker you can play up to, and there's still more to come from him, and that's what we're going to work with.

"We're going to get him better from a tactical point of view, so I'm really looking forward to working with him, and I'm just so happy that we've got that one in.

"Kelsey's his own man, his own player, but he does remind me so much of Colby Bishop. I'm not putting any pressure on Kelsey, but I can see potential there."

[themaclad]

Accrington Stanley have signed goalkeeper Michael Kelly from MK Dons on a two-year deal, while midfielder Liam Coyle has signed a new two-year contract.

Kelly, 27, made 20 appearances for the Dons having joined the club last season, and helped them finish in fourth place in League Two.

Former Liverpool trainee Coyle has made 81 appearances for Stanley but missed seven months of last season with a hernia injury.

"I was part of the Milton Keynes Dons squad up here last year, so I could see how good the fans are and how good the club is," Kelly said., external

"John Doolan and Ged Brannan are putting together what looks like a good squad, and I think hopefully we can be up the right end of the table."

Coyle added:, external "I've loved my time here over the last three years, so I'm really glad to continue this journey on."

[themaclad]

Accrington Stanley have signed Boston United striker Jimmy Knowles on a two-year deal.

The 22-year-old scored 19 goals in National League North last season as the Pilgrims won promotion via the play-offs.

Stanley also signed Knowles' Boston strike partner Kelsey Mooney last month.

"It means a lot to be back in the EFL - my goal is to play as high as I can and this is a very good step up," Knowles told the club website., external

"I have never really played regularly in League Two so it will be good for me to challenge myself but I know I am more than capable of doing it."

The move is subject to Accrington and Boston reaching a compensation agreement.

[themaclad]

Accrington Stanley have completed the signing of Morecambe defender Farrend Rawson on a two-year deal.

The 27-year-old spent two years with the Shrimps, where he captained the side after spells with Derby County, Forest Green Rovers and Mansfield Town.

Rawson spent the 2017-18 season on loan at Accrington and said he had "unfinished business" at the Wham Stadium.

"I'm really happy to be here, to come back, a little bit of unfinished business, it excited me," he told the Accrington website.

"The manager [John Doolan] and Ged [Brannan, assistant manager whom Rawson worked with at Morecambe] have been speaking to me quite a lot in the off-season, they've sold me the project and it sounds really interesting, something I can get behind, and I can't wait to get going."

Accrington finished 17th in League Two last season.

[themaclad]

Accrington Stanley have signed Southampton defender Zach Awe on a season-long loan.

The 20-year-old signed for the Saints last summer on a three-year deal, making 17 appearances for their Premier League 2 side.

He came through Premier League side Arsenal's youth system and played six matches for their under-21 side in the EFL Trophy.

"Southampton are renowned, especially now with Russell Martin, for playing football and everyone saw how they got promoted this year, so Zach fits our profile in terms of what we want in both boxes, but also he can handle the ball," manager John Doolan told Accrington's website.

[themaclad]

Accrington Stanley have signed experienced defender Donald Love on a two-year contract.

The 29-year-old joins the Reds after the conclusion of his contract with Morecambe.

He came up through Manchester United's youth system and has made 148 appearances across the top three tiers of the English Football League.

"I'm really happy to get it done. When John and Ged said to come in and train, and get a feel for the place, straight away I knew I wanted to sign," Donald told Stanley's website, external.

[themaclad]

Accrington Stanley goalkeeper Liam Isherwood has signed a new one-year deal.

The 22-year-old came through the club's youth system and made his debut in March 2022.

However, he missed the whole of last season after having surgery to correct a long-standing back issue.

"He is a young lad that’s still learning the game and (goalkeeper coach) Andy Dibble is doing a tremendous job with him," boss John Doolan told the club website, external.