STANLEY have tied key man Sean McConville down to an improved three-year deal.

The winger was already under contract at the Wham Stadium until 2021 having signed fresh terms 12 months ago.

But now the 30-year-old has been handed another new deal which takes him through to the summer of 2022.

In his second spell with the Reds, McConville scored 15 goals and chipped in with seven assists last season as John Coleman's side finished 14th in League One.

As one of the senior figures in the dressing room, he is keen to keep those standards high as Stanley look to compete at the sharp end of the division this time around.

“I have got a real affiliation with the club, with the fans, I love everything about the club and it does feel like my club," McConville said.

“I think Mark (Hughes) was saying, when we came back, that I was the second oldest which is scary.

“I enjoy it, I am at that age where I have got to set examples day in and day out in the way I conduct myself on and off the pitch and on the training ground to these young players.

“Mark and I have got a lot of games between us, a lot of experience and young players coming into the game who haven’t played much will be looking up to players like that because I did when I was a young player.

“We have to be on the ball daily, set the standards high and keep the dressing room together and who knows what we can achieve this season?

"I am sure it will be a rollercoaster ride like it is every year at Accrington.”

The midfielder has played a total of 286 games for the club, and has grabbed 54 goals and 61 assists.

Owner Andy Holt has gone as far as to say McConville will go down as one of the best players in the club's history.

“The new contract will take Sean to his 10-year service," said boss Coleman.

"He has been a good servant for the club and he has got better as he has got older.”

McConville was on target as Stanley completed their pre-season campaign with a 2-0 win against Morecambe at Lancashire FA headquarters in Leyland on Saturday.

A trip to Lincoln City in next up on the opening day of the season on Saturday, August 3.