More signings to follow top target
ACCRINGTON Stanley boss John Coleman landed top target Cameron Burgess and insisted there were further signings to come for the Reds.
Burgess, 24, joined the squad this week as they returned to training and there will be other new faces joining the group soon, according to Coleman.
“It’s good to get back and hopefully that’s the first of a couple of signings this week – I expect two or three to happen this week and hopefully we will get the squad ready for when we have to go into battle,” the Reds boss told the club’s official website.
“It’s just a timing issue and I have got my fingers crossed for one or two more maybe a bit later and then we will start to have the makings of a squad that I think will challenge this season.”
Coleman said Wycombe’s rise into the Championship has inspired him, given the clubs were playing at the same level two seasons ago.
“We got promoted two years ago winning League Two quite comfortably and the three teams who went up with us, who we finished above, are all in the Championship so why can’t we aim for that? I seriously believe that. Why can’t it be us?”
Coleman will be glad to get back into the swing of things after what he described as a ‘strange’ time, his side having last played in March.
“I have had a few strange times at Accrington but this has been strange with the amount of time off we have had,” he said.
“I have got no worries about the condition of the lads - it’s not like the old days where players used to think that as soon as they clocked off they drank and ate as much as they could.
“They are all very vain about their bodies on Instagram and Twitter and all that palaver so there isn’t too much to worry about on that score!
“I am looking forward to seeing how their fitness progresses, getting back into full contact football.
“It’s going to be difficult with the distancing and the actual mechanics of training at the moment but we will follow the protocol as we are guided to and within three or four months we could be looking at normality.”
Burgess, 24, was Coleman’s first signing of the 2020/21 season. The 24-year-old has been at Scunthorpe since 2017 and spent last season on loan at Salford City.
He was born in Scotland, spent time in Australia and has played for both Scotland up to Under 19 level and Australia at Under 23 level.
The centre half started his career at Fulham and has spent time on loan at Ross County, Cheltenham, Oldham and Bury.
“Cameron was my main target over the summer and I am glad we got it over the line,” said Coleman.
“I spoke to owner Andy Holt as we couldn’t make too many signings but he allowed me to sign one and I am glad I have got him.”
Burgess will provide competition to the Reds defence with Mark Hughes and Ross Sykes occupying the two centre half spots regularly last season.
“Mark can’t go on forever but he is fit enough to compete this year,” said Coleman.
“We had a terrible raft of injuries towards the end of last season and we were left with no centre halves so you have got to have competition.
“It could also lead to a change of system with the opportunity to play three at the back. This will cover all bases.”
The new season will kick off on September 12th without supporters in the ground, but Coleman hopes that will change soon.
“Football is for the fans, football without fans isn’t football in my opinion but we have to go through what we have to go through and hopefully come out the other side,” he said.
“This club has been through a lot of hardships in the 20-odd years when me and Jimmy (Bell) first walked through the door and we have always overcome them and we don’t expect this to be any different.”