Francis Jeffers has set his sights on firing Stanley to league survival after joining the Reds last Friday.
The former Everton and Arsenal striker has signed until the end of the season, making his debut as a substitute in Saturday’s defeat at Northampton.
The 32-year-old, who earned one England cap in 2003, was a free agent after a brief stint in Malta last October. But Jeffers was keen to find a new club and welcomed the challenge of steering Stanley to safety.
“The thing I’ve probably missed most is the discipline, people telling me where to be at a certain time,” he said.
“The past four or five months have made me hungrier to get back in because you’re a long time retired. It’s a chance for me to get back playing and there’s something to go for. The club’s sitting at the wrong end of the table and if I can come in, add a bit of experience and help the club stay in the league then it’ll go down as a decent achievement.”
Jeffers is a good friend of ex-Stanley players Ian Craney and Gary Roberts, along with former managerial duo John Coleman and Jimmy Bell. And he was a frequent visitor at the Crown Ground while he was at Blackburn during the 2006/07 season.
“I’ve always had a bit of a relationship with Accrington,” he revealed. “I’ve always kept my eye out for them.
“It’s strange because I always felt I’d play here at some time. I never saw John and Jimmy leaving so I thought maybe towards the end of my career I’d end up playing for them.
“They’ve moved on and Leam Richardson’s in charge but I’m here now anyway. You never know in football where your career’s going to take you.”
