John Coleman has said today is decision day for his players over 24-years-old – or he will withdraw their contract offers.

The Stanley boss was speaking to all the 17 he has made offers to this week and was expecting a yes or no answer by today.

And he confirmed he has offered a deal to defender Mark Hughes and has other options he is already looking into.

"Obviously the ones under 24, we won’t withdraw those deals due to the finances but for those over 24, I want a decision by Friday (today)," said the Stanley chief, with the Reds owed compensation for players under 24-years-old.

"A number of the players are on holiday but I will be expecting them to get back to me.

"You can’t hang around forever and we have got to move on.

"I have been fair in giving them time to think about it and now it’s fair to the club to let us know one way or another."

Coleman says he is expecting to keep the bulk of his squad but admits he is unsure if he will be able to secure the services of highly-rated midfielder Jimmy Ryan although the Reds boss says if the right club come in for the 22-year-old, he will go with the manager’s blessing.

"Jimmy is a nice lad and if a big club comes in for him – the higher reaches of League One and above – then I will be patting him on the back and giving him every encouragement he needs as, if he wants to move up, he deserves his chance.

"But obviously I hope he, and the likes of Terry Gornell, stay.

"But to those others thinking about contracts and other offers, I would say where were these offers last year?

"We took a lot of players on when they didn’t have clubs and the grass is not always greener away from Accrington as other players have found out.

"Perhaps the one exception is Gary Roberts. He is a good pro who has developed his game since he left us and has knuckled down and improved. But he wouldn’t be where he is now without us and he fully appreciates that.

"I am expecting the likes of Luke Joyce, Alex Cisak, Dean Winnard, Phil Edwards, Sean Hessey and the majority of the squad to sign but you can’t really govern what happens and that’s why I need decisions now."

Former Everton trainee Hughes, 24, was released from Australian side North Queensland Fury in January and Coleman has singled him out.

"We have offered him a deal," confirmed Coleman. "I am due to speak to him today so we should have more news then.

"He is a good defender, he has league experience at Northampton and Walsall, and he is someone we have tried to sign a couple of times but we hope we finally get him."

Coleman has also been in contact with left back Joe Jacobson, who is currently away, but is somewhat resigned to losing the 24-year-old, who he snapped up from Oldham in November.

"We have heard other clubs are in-terest-ed in him and it would be difficult for us to compete with some of the money it is said he has been offered but nothing is settled yet."

Youngsters Peter Murphy and Alan Burton are believed to have have agreed one-year deals with Burton, who has come through the ranks, making his long-awaited league debut in the final match of last season and Coleman is hoping he can play a bigger part this season.

Meanwhile, Stanley target, Macclesfield midfielder Hamza Bencherif, is being chased by Notts County while another target, Macc striker Tyrone Barnett – who has one year left on his contract with the Silkmen – is said to be on big spending league newcomers Crawley Town’s shopping list as well as Crewe’s.