Stanley boss John Coleman has agreed deals with Ray Putterill and Andy Parkinson ahead of the League Two campaign.

Former Macclesfield captain Sean Hessey also looks destined to sign for the Reds while the Stanley chief is talking to ex-Blackburn defender Jonathan Bateson, midfielder Michael Jukes and striker Rory Boulding about their futures with the Reds.

The six trialists are currently with Stanley at the Joma Southwest Challenge Cup in Devon.

Stanley cannot sign anyone yet while they are still under the transfer embargo but Coleman is just waiting for the green light.

"Ray is a clever player and has a good brain," said Coleman of the former Liverpool trainee, who, as a midfielder, certainly likes to get stuck in. "He does have to work on his sharpness but he should do well for us.

"Andy is another clever player and he has bags of experience. He scored a wonder goal against Bideford on Wednesday night where he nutmegged the player from the edge of the area and chipped the ball over the keeper so we hope he can do that for us in the league!

"I will also be talking to a number of the trialists and offer terms to a couple of them. Leam (Richardson) hasn’t been able to play this week but I will also be talking to him.

"The only thing I am lacking at the moment is height - I could really do with a six foot five centre half but I am still searching for him."

The embargo is close to being lifted, says chief executive Rob Heys.

"The accountants came into the club on Tuesday and brought the final drafts," said Heys.

"They have been sent to Ilyas Khan and Peter Marsden (current directors before Khan steps down at the next board meeting) to cast a quick eye over but we don’t anticipate any problems. Then they should be sent to Companies House and the embargo will be lifted."

Stanley only have four players currently registered as last season’s players, who have been offered new deals, also can’t be registered while the embargo is in place.

Coleman did also deny any interest in Macclesfield striker John Rooney, brother of Wayne, who has been linked with the Reds by some sources.

Rooney, 19, had been on trial at Huddersfield but was released and Coleman said: "It’s the first I have heard of it."

Meanwhile, the Reds were waiting to hear after last night’s clashes whether they have progressed to the semi-final stage of the Joma South West Challenge Cup.

Kilmarnock and Blackpool are hot favourites to go through Stanley’s group with organises saying the Reds hopes are hanging by a thread after they lost 2-1 to Premier League new boys Blackpool and won 5-2 against non-league Bideford.

But, no matter what happens, Coleman says the Devon tournament has been a success.

"It was an impressive performance against Blackpool and you just wish we could do that every week.

"If we could then I wouldn’t be overly concerned but you can’t be kidded by pre-season games.

"I remember last season we did really well against Burnley and then were poor against Blackburn and really they count for nothing, except fitness.

"But we did try a new formation and the lads gave it their best shot.

"We pressed and played some good football although, as always, I am disappointed with the goals we conceded. We have got to hope that we learn from these and don’t concede them in the Football League.

"You are never going to eliminate mistakes completely but we have got to try and get people aware of where we can prevent goals coming from.

"The Blackpool game had a a real competitive edge - it wasn’t like a pre-season friendly at all - and you wouldn’t really get that anywhere else so the tournament has certainly been worthwhile.

"We have been treated really well and, apart from the weather causing problems with training, I cannot praise the whole set-up highly enough."

There had been some controversy with Shrewsbury boss Graham Turner criticising the fact only three substitutes were allowed in the games at the tournament but Coleman did not have a problem with this. "It hasn’t bothered me. You want to get 90 minutes into players and not swap and change all the time as, if you do this, then they are prepared for just 45 or 50 minutes.

"You have got to get the lads used to the full game and you are only allowed three subs in the Football League so it really hasn’t been a problem for me."