ACCRINGTON Stanley have offered contracts to Scott Brown, Aaron Chapman and Danny Williams as they prepare for life in League One.

The Reds have also taken club options on midfielder Liam Nolan, defensive trio Mark Hughes, Ben Richards-Everton and Ross Sykes as well as winger Erico Sousa.

Second year scholar Niall Watson will be offered his first professional contract but winger Mekhi McLeod and forward Akeel Francis have been released.

Midfielder Brown has been at the Wham Stadium since 2016 and played a key role in helping the Reds clinch the League Two title this season while goalkeeper Chapman won the League Two Golden Glove award for keeping 18 clean sheets – the Reds kept 19 in total – and only missed two league games all season.

Of the departing duo, McLeod made 15 appearances for the Reds after signing last summer but has spent time on loan at Warrington Town in the second half of the season, while Francis, who joined on a six-month deal in January following his release by Rotherham, failed to make a single appearance for the club.