DARREN Randolph will say good-bye to the Accrington Stanley fans tomorrow (Sat) - but he hopes his absence is only temporary.

The 18-year-old Charlton keeper plays the last game of this three-month loan spell - the maximum permitted outside a season-long stay - against Southport and aims to sign off with a clean sheet and with the Reds at the top of the league.

He will be replaced at Stanley by his team-mate Charlton's Robert Elliot, 19, who has signed on loan until the end of December.

But, while Randolph admits to being envious that Elliot is coming, he says he is going to be nagging his bosses at the Premiership side to let him return to the Interlink when the transfer window re-opens in January.

"If Rob comes and does really well, I will be jealous because I want to come back and will push for it. I have loved it here and had a great time and I want to stay," said Randolph.

"I could only have signed until the end of the season if I had done it in the first or second month but I will go back to Charlton, play some reserve games and hope it is all okay for me to come back in January."

The Republic of Ireland Under 18 keeper has certainly enhanced his reputation with several Championship sides tracking him.

"It is nice to hear but I don't really listen to all the talk as it can make you have a big head. I think everyone of the team has done something to get Accrington into second place, I just get on with playing.

"The fans here have been great and have a song for me asking me to stay - and hopefully I will be back."

His favourite game was the televised clash with then leaders Grays.

"They had never been beaten so I enjoyed that and all my friends from Charlton and Ireland were texting me after saying they had watched it.

"It will be weird that it could be my last game tomorrow but it wouldn't be bad to leave with a clean sheet and Accrington at the top of the league."

Along with Elliot, Coleman has added former Liverpool midfielder Mark Smyth, 20, to the squad on non-contract terms and the boss may have added more ahead of last night's loan deadline.

Meanwhile, Reds striker David Brown is expected to have shrugged off a hip injury he suffered in the 2-0 win over Forest Green last Friday, which temporarily moved the Reds to the top of the Conference - until Grays charged back into pole position on Saturday.

And young striker Andy Mangan will return from suspension after he was sent off against Grays.

And Southport have made a double swoop before the loan deadline. The have snapped up former Morecambe forward Adriano Rigoglioso on loan from Doncaster and Crewe Alexandra defender Mark Roberts.

Boss Liam Watson also enquired about former Stanley winger Rory Prendergast, who left the Reds to join Blackpool, but nothing had happened with that by the time the Observer went to press.

  • THE Second Round draw for the Lancashire FA United Co-op Challenge Trophy will be made tonight on Radio Lancashire. Stanley, the holders, will enter the competition at this stage, which will be played week commencing December 3.
  • THE third qualifying round of the FA Trophy is tomorrow. Stanley come in at the first round stage and the draw is made on Monday. The ties will be played on December 17.