Accrington Stanley boss John Coleman has snapped up keeper Sean Murdoch and defender Kern Miller ahead of the big kick off a week tomorrow.

Scottish stopper Murdoch, 24, has played a couple of the Reds’ pre-season friendly games and has signed a one-year deal at the Crown Ground.

Miller, 20, has signed on a six month loan deal from Barnsley, with the option to extend, after impressing in his two Stanley clashes.

Ironically Miller’s only Football League appearance came at the Crown Ground for first club Lincoln a couple of years ago.

"Sean is a great lad with experience and has played at a high level for Hamilton in the Scottish Premier League." said Coleman.

"He will be good competition for places with Ian Dunbavin. I am pleased with him and he has signed a one-year deal.

"He has now moved down to Accrington from Scotland and it’s up to either of the keepers to make a decision for me about who gets the starting place.

"Kern is a decent defender and is big and strong which is what we need. Hopefully he will do well for us."

Coleman said he was speaking to various trialists yesterday to decide their future.

"I need to make a decision and let them know, it’s only fair to them and us now.

"I am still in talks about taking players on loan but Premier League and Championship clubs don’t seem to want to let their players go yet and so it could be too late for us."

While the bookmakers are writing off Stanley’s chances of repeating their 2011 play-off position, Coleman remains as confident as ever as he enters his 12th season in charge.

"You are always learning, you learn something different every season you are involved and you develop new ways of playing and new styles.

"You learn about the league each year and what it takes to progress and get more experience about the type of players you need.

"That’s why it always shocks me when clubs only give managers one season in charge.

"But, for us, I think why not a top four place? We will have a go at it and go for promotion.

"I do not fear any teams although I know it will be a strong league.

"Our opening opponents Northampton have spent a bit while Swindon and Bristol Rovers, relegated last season, will be expected to bounce straight back.

"Rotherham and Shrewsbury have spent money but, although we haven’t got the biggest budget and that’s an understatement, I think teams will be wary of us too."

The Reds face their final pre-season clash at Blue Square Premier side Stockport tomorrow (ko 3pm) who have ex-Reds Sean McConville and John Miles in their side.

"I like both of those lads and I hope they do well," said Coleman. "I think John chose to leave on the eve of a season when we played a formation that would have been most suited to him.

"Whether he was foolish or unlucky – it’s for others to decide. But I hope they both do well.

"Stockport is the kind of test we need now. We have played Barrow and Marine in the last week and both have been good games.

"Marine was a bit physical but it’s just all geared towards a week tomorrow. It’s our final push now."