JAMES Gray’s future at Accrington Stanley is in doubt after a proposed loan move to Southport failed to go ahead yesterday.

The Reds’ joint top scorer was set to join the Conference club on a deal to the end of the season, after struggling for game time under manager John Coleman.

But it is understood the deal has collapsed, after Gray tweeted his desire to stay at Stanley to fight for his place.

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There was no indication of any hiccups when Coleman held his pre-match press conference yesterday.

At the time he said: “He’s been frustrated, James. The thing that’s really hampered his progress at Accrington since me and Jimmy came back is that he missed our first three games and we won those first three games.

“The style of football that we play, he’d possibly be suited to playing off a striker, and that might still be the case if he plays for Accrington.

“But he’s got a chance now to go and play games, which I know he’s been chomping at the bit to do.”

Gray missed last Saturday’s game at Plymouth Argyle with a groin problem.