John Coleman says there will be a number of signings over the next week after snapping up his first today.
Defender Cameron Burgess, 24, was Coleman’s first signing of the 2020/21 season and he says more will follow.
The Reds returned to part-time training today in small groups.
“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,” said the Reds boss.
“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 admits Wycombe’s rise into the Championship has inspired him.
“My thoughts for this year, 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?”
Stanley last played in March, finishing 17th under the points per game system, and Coleman and all the management and players have been on furlough since then during lockdown.
“I have had a few strange times at Accrington but this has been strange with the amount of time off we have had.
“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.”
Coleman admits that when the new season starts, on September 12th/13th, it will be odd without fans but hopes it 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.
“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.”