ACCRINGTON Stanley will have the first of their two transfer embargoes lifted ahead of tonight’s Football League loan deadline after repaying a debt of around £75,000 to HM Revenue and Customs yesterday.

Stanley had been barred from registering any new players by the Football League because their recent financial crisis had left them behind on their employee-related tax payments for this year.

But, aided in the main by the financial backing of new non-executive chairman Ilyas Khan, the club yesterday repaid sufficient debt to allow the embargo to be lifted once there is confirmation that the payment has been received.

And that will allow the Reds to bring in a defender in time for today’s 5pm deadline, with John Coleman understood to be interested in Blackburn Rovers’ Northern Ireland under 21 international Johnny Flynn.

Chief executive Rob Heys said yesterday: “The payment has been made to HMRC this afternoon, so the embargo will be lifted as soon as they confirm they have received it.

“We’ve spoken to the Football League and they have confirmed that they are happy for the embargo to be lifted.

“There will certainly be one player in and maybe a second one if we can do a bit of movement.”

That second player would be a goalkeeper, but it may require a current player to be released because of another embargo that will come into force after the first signing.

Stanley are only allowed 20 senior players until a debt of around £55,000 is repaid to the PFA, and they currently have 19.

After today’s deadline signings cannot be made until January, but the Reds hope they may get special dispensation to sign a keeper after the deadline if they are unable to complete a deal in time.

The club currently have only one senior stopper, Ian Dunbavin.

Stanley have received no approaches for any of their players ahead of the loan deadline, despite rumours linking Derby with Bobby Grant.

Off the field, Heys confirmed the transfer of Eric Whalley’s majority shareholding to Dave O’Neill is still to go through, with O’Neill hit by illness this week.