Accrington boss John Coleman hails behind-the-scenes heroes
Wednesday 18 April 2018 20:11, UK
Accrington manager John Coleman believes promotion to League One is an achievement which belongs as much to the people who kept the club alive as the players who performed on the pitch.
Stanley first joined the Football League in 1921, following in the footsteps of Accrington FC, who lasted for only six years, but resigned in 1962 after financial difficulties and folded four years later.
They returned as a non-league club and eventually won promotion to League Two in 2006 with Coleman still in his first spell as manager but rejoining the Football League brought with it more financial problems.
But with one of the lowest budgets in the league, Coleman, now in his second stint as manager, has guided them to another level.
"It's not just myself and the players, it is people behind the scenes who kept the club afloat when it was probably a prime candidate to go bust time and time again," Coleman said.
"That is a remarkable achievement in its own right.
"We've kept our heads above water, we've battled against the odds and people are getting the rewards of that."
Coleman has imposed his deep-rooted competitiveness - "Even if it's a game of Scrabble I want to win" - on his players and it has paid off handsomely.
"We sat them down on the first day of pre-season and said 'we're having a right go at getting promoted' and you either buy into it or go somewhere else," added the 55-year-old, who celebrated by taking his family out for lunch on Wednesday.
"They've all had a go - I can't fault their commitment or attitude.
"We always try to go out with a positive attitude no matter what we are doing.
"I am just looking for hunger, be it young lads who have been rejected from pro clubs to seasoned pros who want a last hurrah, I need hunger."
Coleman has already taken a look at what will face him next season and he admits some difficult decisions lie ahead.
"I've been looking at League One games the last month, I'd be lying if I said I hadn't, because I wanted a feel of what it was going to be like," he said.
"My big problem will come in a couple of weeks when I have to let my head overrule my heart because there is a temptation to keep every single player I have but the harsh reality is that some of them won't be here. I have to make a decision and that is not going to be easy."
Coleman is looking forward to locking horns with League One's newest recruit after Joey Barton was appointed Fleetwood head coach.
"He's a good lad Joey, he will be a breath of fresh air. It will be interesting when we are on the bench," Coleman said.
