Accrington Stanley manager John Coleman admits that the club will be hit hard by the impact of transfer restrictions that have been imposed on them.

A Football Association embargo, related to Stanley's financial problems, has limited them to just 20 registered senior players on their books.

And Stanley boss Coleman told BBC Radio Lancashire: "If we pick up any further injuries it'll make life difficult.

"It's hard to create a competitive atmosphere within the squad."

The on-going restriction is due to the financial situation at the club, which has worsened since it became clear that the club face a owe £308,000 tax bill.

And Accrington chief executive Rob Heys says the priority is to repay HM Revenue and Customs as soon as possible.

"We've got more important issues in sorting out our current outgoings rather than bringing in more players to the club," he said. "We've got a squad of 18 players so perhaps 20 isn't a bad squad size to aim for."

Stanley's latest signing is on-loan Leeds United defender Tom Lees, who made his debut in last Saturday's 2-0 win at Bury. But that was counter balanced by the sale of long-serving striker Paul Mullin to Morecambe.

And Coleman may have to face the prospect of having to keep working under such restrictions.

Already, he appears to have been thwarted in an attempt to bring back former Liverpool youth-team striker Craig Lindfield to the Crown Ground.

Wirral-born Lindfield, 21, who has also had loan spells at Notts County, Chester and Bournemouth, spent the last four months of last season on a short-term contract with Stanley.

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