JOHN Coleman feels he has at last got the squad to challenge in the upper reaches of League Two.

Despite the financial restrictions placed on the Reds this season and three seasons battling against relegation, Coleman has assembled a squad during the summer that he admits he is more than happy with.

And that was shown in the 5-0 win against Radcliffe on Tuesday which followed a strong showing in a 1-0 win over Heswall on Monday.

"It’s weird. About three or four weeks ago there was all doom and gloom around the club as we didn’t have many players signed up and we didn’t have the basis of a good squad. Now I think we have the basis of a strong squad and I think it will get stronger. You only have to look at our forwards. We now have Billy Kee and I hope to offer Gary King some kind of deal and then there is Paul Mullin and Michael Symes.

"I have wanted competition for places up front for a while and that’s what we were lacking last season.

"We wanted strength in depth and now we have got it in abundance."

And Coleman has been impressed with the performances of his side, who have yet to lose a pre-season friendly.

"We do look fitter and I think that is down to the lads’ efforts. They haven’t shirked anything we have tried to do in pre-season and they have worked really hard. It has been intensive but I think we are now beginning to see the benefits and it is all geared up to August 8."

The Reds chief admitted the two friendlies this week have given him food for thought for his starting eleven at Rotherham.

"Chris King did really well against Heswall and Sean McConville scored and did well. Ian Dunbavin also had a good game. Then, on Tuesday, Gary King put in a fantastic cross and scored a goal while Billy Kee was impressive and we now have competition for places all over the park and that can only be good for the club."

Defender Leam Richardson got 45 minutes under his belt against Radcliffe as he looks to come back from a pelvic problem which troubled him all last season.

There was also a worrying tackle on defender Peter Murphy, who had to have a knee operation last season, but he was hopeful it was okay.

John Mullin is still sidelined with an ankle injury but hopes to return soon.

And Mullin was watching the five star show at Radcliffe where Stanley bossed the UniBond North side, who had Stanley’s Bee Ami in their defence. Trialist Gary King played in a superb cross for teenage starlet Kee to slide home the first on 19 minutes on his debut.

Then, two minutes later, an Andy Procter cross was fired home via the near post by King.

Luke Joyce curled home his first Stanley goal from the edge of the area on 23 minutes which just crept into the net. The midfielder, signed after being released from Carlisle, did go to hospital for stitches in his foot after a bad challenge but was confident it would clear up.

Kee scored a solo second, getting the ball from outside the box and tricking his way past a number of defenders before slotting home the fourth in the first half.

And he completed his scoring as Coleman began mixing up the team after the break.

"We were sharp in front of goal and were ruthless with our finishing which is what I have been trying to hammer home to the players," said Coleman. "We have got to get a mental toughness and we got straight into Radcliffe from the start. It was pleasing and good to get the goals."

And he is anticipating the big kick off against Rotherham where Coleman promises that the Millers won’t have it easy.

"Some people think we are just turning up at Rotherham to make up the numbers but I will be going there to prove them wrong."