THE sense of achievement in winning the League Two title – a fourth promotion as champions – with Accrington Stanley was palpable. But there was one factor that put the icing on the cake for John Coleman - having his best friend by his side.

Coleman and his assistant manager, Jimmy Bell, grew up together, played together, and for many years lived next door to each other, and have been the double act that has driven the Reds from the fourth tier of non-league to the third tier of English football.

“To do it with your best mate, it’s special, and there’s not many managers who have that,” said the Stanley boss, who arrived with Bell in May 1999, left together for Rochdale in January 2012, and returned together in September 2014.

“It’s all the more satisfying because we’ve enjoyed the ride. Even the bad times, you can smile at your own misfortune sometimes.

“In a perverse way I was sick at not winning the title at Newport on the Tuesday, but to do it at home made it all the more special.”

The arrival of John Doolan, who captained the club to the UniBond First Division title in 1999/2000, to work alongside them as first team coach, provided the piece in the jigsaw they felt was missing to progress.

“Jimmy is a very good coach, he is insightful and has evolved as a coach over the years, from when we were part-time to now. We have all got older and wiser over the years,” said Coleman.

“They set them up for games and I have been able to take a step back and go in sporadically if I see things him and John may miss. It makes my job easier and I think it adds more weight if it’s not the same person all the time

“We all want to play the same way, we all have the same ideas and it’s a formula which is working for us.”

Now they are ready to tackle life in League One head on.

“I think people won’t take us lightly. In the past people have maybe underestimated us at their peril and probably got punished accordingly,” added Coleman of his side’s prospects next season.

“I don’t think we’ll be taking people by surprise anymore.”

Stanley will go into the new term on the crest of a wave having won 18 out of 23 games in the second half of last season to secure the League Two championship.

But Coleman is mindful that a higher division will pose fresh challenges for his team, and for him as their manager.

The Reds were rewarded for the team spirit that they fostered last season – a togetherness which brought them out of a run of five straight defeats – four in the league - and helped them turn a corner in their promotion quest.

But Coleman expects that spirit to be put to the test next term.

“Team spirit is easy when you’re winning,” he said.

“It sort of comes after you’ve been winning. When you probably need the most encouragement to improve and to get out of a hole is probably when it’s not there so we’ve got to keep the lads’ feet firmly on the ground and get them motivated to have a good goal for next season.”

Coleman himself will be well briefed. For the former primary school teacher has gone back to the classroom, having spent part of his summer break completing a Diploma in Football Management, which is run through the League Manager’s Association.

“It’s been quite insightful,” explained the Stanley boss, whose previous employment has also included working for a local government, at a highways depot and as a store keeper.

“I’ve met a lot of good football people on there from a wide spectrum, from Academy coaches to first team managers to players to Ladies football managers - men and women.

“There’s a good set of people. It’s been enjoyable and informative.

“It was a week’s residential last year and one day a month at St George’s, and then it finished off with another week’s residential this summer.

“We’ve covered some interesting topics and it gives you a little bit of food for thought.

“I’m not really a social butterfly, I don’t normally network so it helps the likes of me because I get introduced immediately to about 40 people which is something I wouldn’t normally do. I’m not a worker of a room, so to speak.

“But I’ve always had a thirst for knowledge.

“I think you should always be looking to push yourself and always be looking to learn. The minute you think you know everything you’re going to come a cropper.

“I’m always trying to educate myself in any walk of life, but certainly in football terms.”

They are traits that he encourages and looks for in his players too.

“I do. I like them to explore ways that they can get better,” he said.

“People say inches make yards make winners, but any small advantage you can get, why not take it?”

Given his spell in charge of Rochdale you might expect that to be the first game he looks for when the fixtures come out later this month.

“Not particularly. I know Jimmy’s looking forward to Rochdale. I just enjoy every game that we play,” he said, before reconsidering.

“I sometimes don’t enjoy the games but I enjoy the thrill of the challenge, and to be honest I can’t wait for the season to start now!”