Accrington Stanley have sold hot-shot striker Billy O'Callaghan in a shock four-figure deal.

Reds boss John Coleman tied up a deal with North Western Trains League outfit Prescot Cables last night and O'Callaghan could play in their Liverpool Senior Cup clash at Bootle tonight.

The move is bound to anger Stanley fans as O'Callaghan became a firm favourite after notching 33 goals last season at the Crown.

But personal problems during the summer meant he missed a large chunk of pre-season training.

And, after making just a handful of appearances this term, he then told Coleman he wanted to leave.

"I know the fans are going to be disappointed but, while I'm manager, I only want people who want to play for Accrington Stanley," said Coleman.

"Billy made it clear he didn't want to play for us anymore.

"He didn't really want to train throughout the summer and he's had an illness recently.

"I wanted him to come back pushing for a place but it wasn't to be and there's no point keeping a player who is unhappy.

"There's no animosity between us.

"But the club cannot revolve around one player.

"And I think we've got a fair deal. "We might have been able to command a better fee if he'd carried on scoring the amount of goals he did last season.

"But he's only scored once this term and, with the advent of the Bosman ruling, it's more difficult now to get a fee for a player."

O'Callaghan was reported to have been unsettled last season as Stanley struggled at the foot of the UniBond Premier Division.

But he signed a new contract at the start of the summer and the club had hoped his goals would spearhead a promotion charge this term.

Now Coleman is considering whether to use the money to sign a replacement.

But he already has a wealth of strikepower at his disposal, following the summer signings of Gary Williams, Mark Ceraolo and Mark Shirley, and he is confident they can do a job.

"If a quality forward becomes available then we'll go in for him," said Coleman.

"But on the other side of the coin we've brought in people like Gary Williams who has done exceptionally in his short time here and the fans have really taken to him."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.