ACCRINGTON Stanley defender Dean Winnard has opted to leave the Reds and join their Lancashire rivals Morecambe.

The 26-year-old was out of contract at the Wham Stadium but had been offered a new deal.

The former Blackburn Rovers trainee has rejected that offer though and has instead decided to sign a two-year contract with the Shrimps and he will move to the Globe Arena at the start of July.

Winnard joined the Reds following his Ewood Park release in 2009 and he has gone on to make 283 appearances for the club, scoring six times.

He suffered an injury-hit campaign last season, managing just 16 appearances as Stanley went within a whisker of promotion to League One.

Shrimps' boss Jim Bentley described Winnard as a 'winner' and believes he will be a great addition to his squad for next season, having seen Morecambe finish 21st this season, 39 points worse off than Stanley.

"I have seen a lot of Dean over the years and I have always admired him," said Bentley.

"I have been looking at people who will strengthen our back four and I am sure Dean will do that. He has a great deal of experience at this level and is a winner.

"He can play at centre half or at full back and ticks all the right boxes for us.

"He is a great signing and I am looking forward to working with him. I'm sure he will be a real fans' favourite for us.''

Winnard is the second Stanley player to reject a new contract and opt for pastures new since their play-off semi-final defeat to AFC Wimbledon, with Ross Etheridge moving to Doncaster.

Centre half Mark Hughes was the first of the out-of-contract players to sign a new deal earlier this week.

Seamus Conneely, Billy Kee, Sean McConville and Matty Pearson, as well as youth team stars Ross Sykes and Nathan Webb, are still under contract at the Wham Stadium.