JAMES Beattie knows Accrington Stanley will face a huge battle to keep their squad intact this summer – as they again search for new investment.

A number of key players are out of contract this summer, including the likes of Peter Murphy, Dean Winnard, Will Hatfield and James Gray.

Lee Molyneux, Marcus Bettinelli, Kayode Odejayi and Adam Buxton also see their loan spells expire.

Beattie wants to keep the majority of his squad in place for next season and add further quality.

Chairman Peter Marsden has been trying for more than a year to secure more outside investment and Beattie is also attempting to use his contacts within the game to attract interest.

Without more money, the Stanley boss knows the club’s limited budget will make it difficult for them to get the squad they want – as has always been the case at the club.

“Yes it’s going to be a struggle,” Beattie said. “We’ll be working through the summer because recruitment is 95 per cent of your success.

“We’ve tried to tinker with season ticket prices and tried to do all sorts.

“The chairman needs some help from somewhere and I’ll be trying to get him that help.

“I’m sure he’s trying to get himself that help too, from wherever that may be.

“It will be a struggle but anything that is worth having is always worth fighting for.”

Beattie admitted some time ago that he could struggle to keep midfielder Murphy, who has attracted interest from elsewhere after netting nine goals this season.

“I think it’s notorious that we’ve got the smallest budget in the league and if players are playing well for us then they’re always going to be linked,” the boss said.

“A lot of people come down to the games because of their talents and probably because I’m the manager.

“I have a lot of people enquiring about certain players. Obviously there are going to be some more than others but there are only going to be enquiries when they’re merited.

“There are certainly a few this season who have played well enough to have people enquiring about them and I’ll give my honest opinion about them.

“Whether clubs like it or not, players do speak to other clubs. Even though it’s not allowed it happens. There’s nothing you can do about it.

“I always say to the lads you never know when the most important game of your life is, because you never know who’s watching.

“Whether it’s behind closed doors or in front of 50,000, one person watching might make that one phone call that could lead you to somewhere fantastic.”