KAYODE Odejayi has tipped boss James Beattie for a big future in management after Accrington Stanley secured their Football League survival at the weekend.

Odejayi scored in Stanley’s 2-1 win at Oxford United as Beattie completed the Reds’ recovery from a nightmare start to the season.

The Stanley boss has already been linked with jobs elsewhere in League Two this season, and Odejayi thinks Beattie can make progress as a manager after keeping the Reds up on a limited budget.

“It’s a really good achievement for a club like Accrington,” Odejayi said.

“Some people might not see it as an achievement but with the resources here, it’s a fantastic little club and all credit to everyone involved for staying in the league. It’s a great bunch of boys with the camaraderie throughout the squad and that stems from the gaffer, who has always been very positive from the day I walked through the door.

“He’s a top man and he should go on and have a great career as a manager.”

Odejayi’s loan spell from Rotherham expires after Stanley’s final game of the season at home to Wimbledon on Saturday.

After that the 32-year-old striker is out of contract and Beattie has not yet told his squad which players he intends to offer deals for next season.

At this stage, Odejayi is not sure where his future lies.

“I don’t know,” he said. “It’s hard out there at the moment with a lot of players out of contract. It’s tough finding a club. If I’m selected on Saturday hopefully I can go out on a high and get a goal. Then it’s just the waiting game, like it is for a few people.

“I’ve loved every minute here. The boys have been brilliant, the staff have been fantastic and the fans have been great. I’ve got nothing but positive things to say.”

Stanley yesterday moved up a place to 16th in League Two after AFC Wimbledon, who they host on Saturday, were deducted three points for fielding an ineligible player.

Wimbledon have been punished for fielding Jake Nicholson against Cheltenham in March, and now drop from 14th to 18th in the League Two table.