Accrington Stanley: Dean Winnard & James Gray extend contracts

Centre-back Dean Winnard and striker James Gray have agreed one-year contracts to remain with Accrington.

Winnard, 23, has played 183 times in four years at the Store First Stadium, including 43 appearances in 2012-13.

Gray, a Northern Ireland Under-21 international, scored twice for Stanley last season after joining the League Two club from Darlington.

The pair join George Miller, Ian Dunbavin and Laurence Wilson in renewing with James Beattie's side.

Winnard told the club website: "The way James and [assistant] Paul Stephenson are preparing for next season is getting a lot of people here excited."

Gray added: "It's been difficult with Leam [Richardson] leaving to go to Chesterfield and then a couple of weeks of having no manager, but when James Beattie got the job, he rang me and said he'd like to offer me a new contract.

"I was really pleased. He spent hours with me on the training ground last season trying to improve me, so I was delighted to hear he wanted to sign me for next season."