IAN Craney has become the second Accrington Stanley player in just over a month to be loaned out.

The highly-rated midfielder has joined League One promotion hopefuls Swansea City on loan until January with a view to a permanent deal.

Craney follows hot on the heels of winger Gary Roberts, who has taken the Championship by storm so far in his initial three-month spell with Ipswich Town and looks set to stay at Portman Road.

Stanley assistant manager Jimmy Bell said: "It's taken my and John (Coleman) by surprise to be honest.

"It's not the best time for it to happen on the back of four league defeats.

"But hopefully what's happened will make us stronger, make us rally round each other and really dig in.

"We have to see how strong people are who take the shirts."

Winger Sean Doherty and third choice goalkeeper Francois Dubourdeau also went out on loan yesterday, with both securing deals with Conference strugglers Southport until January.

But Bell is hoping three new faces will be added to the squad ahead of the window for loan deals closing today, with the Reds lining up two Championship players and one from a Premiership club.

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