STANLEY manager John Coleman still has his sights set on a striker despite deadline day passing quietly last Thursday.
Coleman admitted he made enquiries about permanent deals for Gray's Aaron McLean and Dennis Oli as well as what would have been a huge coup to bring former Manchester United and Liverpool ace Paul Ince to the Fraser Eagle Stadium.
"We asked about Paul as he is the kind of player who would fit our bill but he has decided to go to Swindon instead," said Coleman. "We also made enquiries about Aaron McLean and Dennis Oli but were told both of them were unavailable.
"But we are still making enquiries as we can sign loan players from today.
"In the last week, I have watched players at UniBond, Conference and League One and Two level as well as talking to Premiership clubs about taking a couple of their young lads on loan. At the moment we are also trying to contact a Championship club.
"We are looking at every level but there must be 17 or 18 clubs from Conference National level to our level and in League One looking for a striker. It is like trying to buy a house in a much sought after area. And I won't be rushed - I won't sign someone for the sake of it but there are moves afoot."
One player he said wasn't on his hit list was Grays Jamie Slabber who has handed in a transfer request.
But there was one addition to the Stanley squad last Thursday - French goalkeeper Francois Dubourdeau who has signed until Christmas. The 25-year-old has played over 40 matches in the Scottish Premier League with Motherwell and Kilmarnock and was on the bench in Friday's 3-1 loss to Lincoln.
Coleman decided he needed another keeper with Rob Elliot taking longer than expected to recover from an ankle injury and the loanee is still at his club Charlton having treatment.
"Rob has had an injection and we hope it will clear up this week as it has been too long as it is," said the boss.
"It means we have three keepers with Rob, Francois and Ian Dunbavin and the best one will play on the day."
He also revealed there were some clubs in contact about striker David Brown, who has been left out of the Stanley squad in the last few games. He did score in the reserves 1-1 draw with Bury on Wednesday.
"One or two clubs enquired but no one came back with a concrete offer," he said.
And while Coleman is on a striker hunt, the work on the training ground has been on Stanley's defence.
The boss has been frustrated with his side conceding early goals - which they did again in their League Two loss at Lincoln on Friday, going behind in the sixth minute.
"I am surprised how sloppy we have been defensively," admitted the manager.
"Maybe we rode our luck a bit last year but it was about 38 games we went without conceding a goal in the first 15 minutes of a game. This season we have conceded early in most of the games - probably five out of the six - and it does not bear thinking about. We have got to be more alert."
And he is expecting to see an improvement at Notts County tomorrow (Sat) and then in Wednesday's home clash with Wrexham as they look to build on one win in their opening six league games.
"I am not happy (about that statistic) but I am not worried about it either. I don't think our performance warranted a defeat on Friday and, just like I wasn't kidded by wins, I won't be kidded by defeats. But it will be a concern if it continues to happen and we can't do something about it.
"I am convinced we have got a squad who will roll their sleeves up and will certainly win enough games in this league.
"Against Lincoln, we passed the ball around well against a decent team who are third in the league and we took the game to them even when we had 10 men. If we build on that it is only a matter of time before we win some games."
And he hopes this starts tomorrow.
He continued: "Notts County are a physical side who have Jason Lee up front and they are very direct in trying to get the ball to him. They also have strong defenders and it will be a test. And I watched Wrexham at Chester and they are another well-organised side and it will be difficult.
"But I am not going to worry about the opposition. I know that we have got to stay in the game for longer periods than we are doing at the moment, and then once the game settles down, we are more than a match for anyone in this league.
"We can't dwell on the negatives but look at the positives. Gary Roberts had his best game this season against Lincoln and, when we get our flair players on the ball, we will make it difficult for the opposition. But our priority at the moment is stopping other teams and hopefully we will do that over the next two games."
