THE gloves are off for Stanley’s two new goalkeepers – but they insist they’ll get along with each other while battling it out for the number one jersey.

Reds boss John Coleman swooped to bring in both Elliot Parish from Colchester United and 6ft 8in Aaron Chapman, who had been released by Chesterfield, after losing Ross Etheridge to Doncaster and releasing Jason Mooney.

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The rivals met for the first time when the squad reported for pre-season training last week, and revealed they were sitting next to each other in the changing room as they prepare to fight it out for a starting spot.

Parish told the Lancashire Telegraph: “I think that’s exactly what it is for both me and Aaron.

“I met him for the first time and he’s a good lad, so that makes it easier to get on with and work hard with.

“But, obviously, I want to have that number one shirt and have a successful season playing in it.”

Parish is looking forward to the challenge at the Wham Stadium, adding: “The club had a great season last year. It has a good history and hopefully I can be a part of a successful future.”

The 26-year-old started his career with Aston Villa before moving on to Cardiff City, Bristol City, Blackpool and Colchester.

“I’ve played dribs and drabs everywhere – 35 games last year – so I’m hoping to play most games this year and, as I said, just to start in goal and prove I’m the number one goalkeeper.

“I’ve always said stay in the game, get as many games as you can if you haven’t cracked it, like your Jack Butlands, early on.

“So I stayed in the game, played nearly 100 games, and now my chance, I guess, is to hopefully get that number one shirt and really show people that I’m a good number one goalkeeper.”

Chapman is a more familiar face at Stanley, having played three games and kept two clean sheets while on loan with the club two years ago.

An ankle injury sent him back to the Spireites on that occasion, and the 26-year-old said: “It’s unfinished business here.

“I really enjoyed it here last time, so to come back and to add to what the club did last year, hopefully we can push forward and get the promotion that the club deserves.”

He added: “I spoke to him (Parish) earlier. We sit next to each other and he seems like a nice guy.

“My aim is to play as many games as I can. Obviously, he’s going to be thinking the same.

“It’s whoever has the best pre-season and see who can get the games.”

Coleman said: “I don’t want a number one and a number two.

“I was keen to try and get two keepers who I thought were both capable of playing a full season and if they’re pushing each other all the way, they could take each other’s places.

“Last season that was my plan, but it didn’t pan out the way I planned it because one got the nod over the other in pre-season and the other one regressed.

“When the other one did get his chance, the one he took the place off regressed, so they didn’t really push each other.

“I’m determined for that not to happen again this season.”