ACCRINGTON Stanley chairman Peter Marsden has thrown his support behind boss Leam Richardson after an encouraging performance in Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Cheltenham.

Former management duo John Coleman and Jimmy Bell, recently sacked by Rochdale, both opted to attend the game as spectators at a time when the Reds sit in the League Two relegation zone.

But Stanley produced one of their best displays for some time against promotion-chasing Cheltenham, and a scheduled board meeting after the match saw support for Richardson, 33.

Marsden said: “Leam has got a two-year contract and we have every faith that in the long term we have got a great managerial prospect in the game. We are fully supportive of him.

“As fans would want, we would be stupid not to have a plan B or a plan C, but plan A with Leam as long-term manager still remains very much on course.

“I still expect Leam to be here at the start of the next season – we think we have identified a long-term talent as a manager.”