Ian Craney is pinching himself as to his change in fortunes this season.

Not so many months ago, the midfielder was battling with promotion back into the Football League with big money Fleetwood in the Blue Square Premier League.

But now the 28-year-old is confident he will be returning to the highest level he has played at with the club he keeps returning to – Stanley.

Craney left the Crown Ground in two previous spells to play in League One but he is sure that – after re-joining the Reds on loan in November and permanently in January – he will be playing there with John Coleman’s side next season.

"We have got such belief and ability in this squad," said the former Huddersfield and Swansea man. "The place is rocking, the dressing room is rocking and we have got to keep it together as we have the belief. I am sure we will get where we want to be.

"At the start of the season we would be buzzing with a top 10 finish so it’s mad that now we are buzzing with thoughts of automatic promotion. It’s the crazy world of football."

Craney is used to life at the Reds after three permanent spells at the Crown Ground and he says the current crop of players are probably the best he has played with and deserve a lot of credit for keeping in top gear, even with the off-field ownership problems which have dogged the club this season.

"All the players at the club have shown a lot of character," said the bubbly scouser.

"There have been a lot of things going on off-the-pitch with wages not being paid and so on but we haven’t sulked or done anything bad, but we have kept having a right go.

"It must be great for the gaffer to have a squad of players who just want to play football. There is still a lot of hard work to do but it’s fantastic at the moment."

Since he arrived at the Crown Ground for the fifth time overall, after Saturday’s clash with Northampton he had played 15 games and had only been on the losing side three times.

The Reds have put together a terrific run of home wins and just one defeat in 12 matches after Saturday’s clash has propelled them into play-off contention.

"I am definitely glad I came back!" said the midfielder. "The fact we could be in League One next season is frightening.

"When you are winning, this is the best club to be at with the gaffer. He keeps ripping at us but he also keeps praising us and telling us what we did right or wrong. John and Jimmy (Bell) will always be the ones to get the best out of us."

Craney, however, was the first to admit that the Reds’ show against Northampton wasn’t the best.

He scored two goals – admitting his second, where he flicked Jimmy Ryan’s shot in, was a fluke – while Sean McConville got the other as Stanley raced into a three-goal lead inside 35 minutes.

The relegation-threatened Cobblers did get one back from a Michael Jacobs free kick but in truth the Reds never looked like giving up three points which took them to the fringe of the play-offs.

"I guess it is a sign of a good team that we didn’t play well but still got the result," said Craney.

"You want to play well but the wins are the important things now. The goals came at the right time and, although 3-0 at half-time flattered us, we did up it after the break.

"It just shows how far the club has come that we weren’t at our best but won convincingly."

The Reds took the lead in the 16th minute when Terry Gornell’s shot was blocked by the Cobblers defence but Craney was first to pounce and slot the ball home for his fifth goal for the Reds.

Straight after a free kick from Northampton’s Josh Walker was pushed out by Stanley keeper Alex Cisak while home defender Phil Edwards cleared Liam Davis’ effort off the line.

However it was Stanley who extended their lead on 27 minutes when McConville’s strike was blocked and it came out to Ryan who fired goalwards and the ball came off Craney and wrong-footed keeper Chris Dunn.

"I just flicked it towards the goal and hoped," said Craney, who took his tally, including his Fleetwood goals, to nine for the season on Saturday. "I didn’t really know where it was going."

It was three on 35 minutes when Ryan’s cross was flicked on by Andy Procter and was met by McConville who superbly volleyed home the 12th of his season.

Craney almost grabbed a hat-trick but defender Davis cleared off the line and striker Gornell wasn’t far off adding a fourth after bringing down a Craney chip into the area and firing just wide.

Jacobs’ 20-yard free kick into the top corner of the net got one back for Northampton on 67 minutes but the Reds never looked in real trouble.

Stanley striker Gornell had two great chances to extend the home side’s lead but both times keeper Dunn denied him from close range.

"I am made up to score two and that’s nine for the season. If I can get into double figures for Accrington, it would be a dream," added Craney.

The Stanley fans are certainly in dreamland.