PAUL Carden is prepared for any initiation ceremony which comes with signing up for a new football club.

The 28-year-old has Blackpool, Rochdale, Chester, Doncaster, Peterborough, Burton and now Accrington Stanley on his CV and is used to meeting new team-mates and having to go through whatever procedures are set up for the newcomers.

"They have said on the pre-season trip to Scotland there will be a few initiations I have to go through as all new players do," said Carden.

"The problem is I am usually the one who organises them. I will have to wait and see what they are, though. I am not worried yet."

That is all part of the bonding process and the midfielder admits he is finally happy to land at the Fraser Eagle Stadium.

It is third time lucky that manager John Coleman got his man as the Stanley boss has been after the tough-tackling Liverpudlian for a while.

"I have had talks with John a few times but, for one reason or another, they haven't materialised," said Carden.

"I remember the year Accrington won promotion in the Conference, I came to the ground to talk to the management but then Peterborough came in for me.

"At that time Peterborough were favourites for League Two, it was a decent contract and I had never played down south and always wanted to try. So I went down and gave it a go."

He left there in October last year and signed for Stanley earlier this month after a spell at Conference side Burton.

Albion boss Nigel Clough had offered him a new contract in the summer but the lure of League football was too much.

"I want Burton to do well as they are a really good club to play for and they treated me really well," said Carden.

"Nigel understood that I wanted to play as high as I can and Accrington ticked all the boxes. They are in the League, it was a two year contract, they are full-time and it was close to home.

"Burton were understanding and I hope they do well next season.

"They were unlucky last season as, we were on the verge of the play-offs, but we shot ourselves in the foot in the final game.

"Hopefully Burton will do it this season but I am concentrating on Accrington and I can't wait for the season to start. I am excited to be at a new club."

He will come up against a few of his former clubs and first up is Posh in Stanley's second home game of the season and he is determined to keep a cool head.

"I can't wait for that game - I am really looking forward to it and I have to make sure I don't get sent off!" he said.

But Carden knows he isn't guaranteed a starting berth as the battle is on for a midfield spots with Andy Procter and Jay Harris also in the hunt for one of the places.

"You cannot just have two players for two positions," he said."You need cover and competition and all of us three are the type of players who want to win.

"I think that can only be good for the club."

Carden believes the Reds can aim for a top ten spot next season and hopes they can banish any thoughts of another fight at the bottom of the table as soon as possible.

"I wouldn't have come here if I thought we would be relegated.

"All the clubs who were down there last season will obviously think the same but, from what I have seen here, we will be okay.

"There are a decent set of players here from last season and the manager has strengthened the side.

"You only have to look at Kenny Arthur - he is the perfect build for a goalkeeper. 6ft 3in tall and 6ft wide - he will fill the goal!

"But hopefully we can push on. We should be aiming for at least the top ten and then maybe push on for the play-offs."

And Carden is part of the plan to tighten up last season's leaky defence.

He said: "When you look at last season, Accrington had no problem scoring goals and that gives us high hopes if the front men can carry on doing that.

"Hopefully I can help the defence to keep them out.

"I know that was a problem last season and the manager has already been working on it in training."

But don't be reliant on Carden to get the goals.

"I am not a goalscorer. I think the highest I have got for a season is five at Chester so I will leave that to the others."