SIGNING a 12-month contract with Accrington Stanley is a deal that could change Andy Todd's life.

The 27-year-old wide man has quit his job as a personal trainer and is ready to uproot his family from Derby to East Lancashire.

But he believes they are drastic steps worth taking to fulfil his dream of playing in the Football League.

Just under a year ago, Todd was hoping for a move to Oldham Athletic. A deal seemed on the cards after a lengthy trial at Boundary Park.

But the Latics were stalling on their offer and Burton Albion stepped in to snap up Todd from Hucknall Town.

However, Todd fell out of favour with manager Nigel Clough and was allowed to join Stanley on loan for the final, and crucial, three months of last season.

And the former Nottingham Forest trainee, who made his only Football League appearance on loan at Scarborough before their relegation to the Conference, hasn't looked back.

"I'd love next season to be a follow-on from the last three months of last season," he said.

"I really enjoyed myself and I'm really grateful that Accrington came in for me when I needed someone to come in for me to give me a chance to play some games and show what I can do.

"I played in 95 per cent of the games from when I joined and I would like to think I was the final piece of the jigsaw.

"I like to think we helped each other out and now I've been offered the chance to extend my stay on a more permanent basis, and I hope I can take my form from the end of last season into the team, starting in August, and go right through.

"I'm sure I can do it and I'm relishing the chance."

He added: "I'm coming to the peak of my career. I've made one league appearance as a substitute before, but I've never had a real shot at league football until now.

"This is what I've been working hard for over the last four or five seasons in non-league since I came out of the pro game.

"I didn't work hard in non-league for nothing. My ultimate aim was to play league football."

And Todd intends to continue his trend of being in the right place at the right time when it comes to goals.

"I mixed in with the odd goal, whether it be extravagant or crucial," said Todd, who hit five goals in 16 appearances for the Reds.

"That's been part of my game at whichever standard I've played at, and hopefully that will carry on."