[themaclad]

Accrington Stanley will be without defender Jay Rich-Baghuelou for the rest of the season after he was ruled out with an ankle injury.

The 22-year-old was forced off after just 21 minutes during Saturday's 1-0 victory at Shrewsbury.

A scan revealed the extent of the damage and it was confirmed that the Australian will not return this season.

"He's positive and he's going to work hard on his rehab," manager John Coleman told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"Plenty of people have come back from serious injuries like this."

Rich-Baghuelou joined the club in January and started the first two matches of the new League One season.

Stanley were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Tranmere 12-11 on penalties after a 2-2 draw on Tuesday.

After a win and a draw so far in the league, they host Burton Albion on Saturday.

[themaclad]

Accrington Stanley defender Mitch Clark has been charged with misconduct in relation to alleged breaches of betting rules by the Football Association.

The charge for the 24-year-old relates to the alleged placing of 312 bets on football matches between 8 February 2022 and 10 March 2023.

Clark made 49 appearances for Stanley during the 2022-23 season as they were relegated from League One.

He has until Wednesday, 17 May to respond to the charge.

Under FA rules and regulations, there is a worldwide ban on betting on football in place for those involved in football from the Premier League level down to step three of the non-league pyramid.

This includes betting on matches, and other football-related matters such as transfers, signings, managerial appointments and sackings, or team selections.

[themaclad]

Accrington Stanley have released defender Mitch Clark - two weeks after he was charged with misconduct in relation to alleged breaches of betting rules by the Football Association.

Clark, 24, is alleged to have placed 312 bets on football matches between 8 February 2022 and 10 March 2023.

Brentford striker Ivan Toney was given an eight-month ban on Wednesday for 232 breaches of the FA's betting rules.

Stanley were relegated to League Two in the 2022-23 season.

"I have had a good long chat with Mitch and releasing him for now works for both parties," boss John Coleman told the club website.

"He has time to clear his head and we will revisit it when we know the outcome of his hearing. We are all on the same page."

The Lancashire side have also released Anthony Mancini, Joe Hardy, Rhys Fenlon, Enock Lusiama and Dylan Moonan.

The club have triggered contract extensions for Ethan Hamilton, Joe Pritchard, Rosaire Longelo, Jack Nolan, Korede Adedoyin, Connor O'Brien and Toby Savin.

Michael Nottingham, Harvey Rodgers and Seamus Conneely remain in talks over new deal

[themaclad]

Accrington captain Seamus Conneely has signed a new one-year deal.

The 34-year-old midfielder has made 277 league appearances for Stanley since joining from Sligo in January 2015.

"He's certainly a really good role model, a great captain and he's been a fantastic servant," boss John Coleman told the club website.

"We're desperate to create a sense of stability at the club, so having someone of his ilk on board is going to be very beneficial for us."

[themaclad]

Accrington Stanley have signed defender Brad Hills on a season-long loan from Championship side Norwich City.

The 19-year-old is yet to make his senior debut for the Canaries and moves to Lancashire for his first experience of first-team football in his career.

"I need to be tested. A loan this season is perfect. I'm buzzing to come over," he told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"I need to use this as a stepping stone to prove to the manager that I can play for Norwich one day."

[themaclad]

Accrington Stanley have signed Birmingham's Josh Andrews and Norwich's Lewis Shipley on loan, while Kelvin Mellor has joined on a one-year deal.

Andrews, 21, and Shipley, 19, both join on season-long loans from their clubs.

Andrews has previously played in League Two during loan spells with Harrogate, Rochdale and Doncaster, while Shipley is yet to play full senior football.

Mellor, 32, moves to Lancashire after being released by Crewe Alexandra at the end of the 2022-23 season.

"This is my fourth loan, I am familiar with the league and I have learnt this is a much more physical league to under-23s football, people's jobs are on the line," Andrews said.

Shipley added: "The quicker the game is, the more it suits me so I think this physicality in League Two will be better for me than 23s football."

"Experience is everything in life but even I am still learning. I will help anyone though and try and pass on my experience to the younger generation," Mellor told the club website.

[themaclad]

Accrington have signed midfielder Ben Woods on a one-year deal.

The 20-year-old joined Inverness on a short-term deal in January and made seven substitute appearances.

Woods, who spent time in the Manchester United and Burnley academies, could make his debut for Stanley in Saturday's trip to Notts County.

"He has come through the academies, tried his luck in Scotland, and wants to be closer to home," boss John Coleman told the club website.

[themaclad]

Accrington Stanley defender Jay Rich-Baghuelou has signed a new two-year contract to remain with the League Two club until 2025.

The 23-year-old joined the Lancashire club from Crystal Palace in January 2022 and has made 21 appearances.

Rich-Baghuelou missed much of last season having sustained a serious knee injury two games into the campaign.

"I had the injury last season, but the club have shown faith in me and they've stuck by me," he told the club website.

"I love Accrington; I've loved every moment being around the club, the players, the staff.

"It's a really close club, I feel at home and I enjoy it here. I enjoy playing for the club, playing for the fans."

[themaclad]

Alex Henderson has signed a new three-year contract with Accrington Stanley.

The 19-year-old midfielder came through the youth system at the Lancashire club and after making his debut in October has gone on to make 22 further appearances this season, scoring four times.

Henderson has had loan spells at Colne and Clitheroe in the last two seasons, after joining his boyhood club Stanley as a 15-year-old.

Manager John Doolan said: "Alex is a pleasure to work with, his performances, the way he trains, the way he conducts himself around the place, and he's only going to go one way in terms of his development.

"It's great to have one of your own who the fans can identify to."

[themaclad]

Sean McConville will leave Accrington Stanley this summer after making a club-record 445 appearances.

The 35-year-old midfielder will be given a testimonial in July after a total of 12 seasons with Stanley across two spells at the club.

His contract expires this summer and he has only managed six games during the campaign after suffering a broken ankle.

McConville first joined Stanley from Skelmersdale United in 2009 and after three seasons moved on for spells at Stockport, Barrow, Stalybridge and Chester before returning in 2015.

In his second spell, he was a key figure as Accrington won promotion to League One in 2018.

Chairman Andy Holt told the club website, external: "Sean has been a brilliant servant to the club. He has been part of Stanley teams which have created some superb memories that will live long in all our minds.

"His service has been greatly appreciated, he fully deserves his club legend status."

McConville admitted his frustration at the way this season has panned out, saying: “I started this season well and believed I would have a good season, with double figures by Christmas, having scored two goals in the first five League Two matches and I could have had more. I felt great at League Two level.

“Then it was just a freak injury – a studs caught in the floor and it broke my ankle. I needed an operation, injections, scans – it was nothing to do with my age or ability, just one of those things.

“I am fit now but obviously the season has finished."