Defender hopes for Stanley stay

Leam Richardson plans on staying at Accrington and hopes his future will be secured shortly, despite offers on the table from other clubs. The former Blackburn defender has been at the club since 2005 but has been affected by a persistent pelvic problem over the last two seasons. The 30-year-old is on a one-year pay-as-you-play contract but hopes he can sign a permanent deal with the Lancashire club, who he joined on a free transfer from Blackpool five years ago. "I've had a few offers that have been put to me in the last couple of weeks. There are a couple in our league and a couple in the Conference," said Richardson. "But with the gaffer and the club being good to me through this injury period I've always said I'd like to stay here, so I've offered them first refusal. "It will be a case of negotiating. The offers from elsewhere are fixed contracts so we'll just have to see what happens. I think it will be sorted in the next ten days."

Source: PA