How Accrington Stanley missed out on £1m man (From Lancashire Telegraph)

How Accrington Stanley missed out on £1m man

3:10pm Friday 19th March 2010 in

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IF Rochdale centre back Craig Dawson does move to Tottenham or Fulham for £1m in the summer, as reports have suggested may happen, Accrington Stanley boss John Coleman will look back with some frustration on the one that got away.

The 19-year-old, crowned League Two’s player of the year this week after notching 11 goals from defence, was a little-known player at non-league Radcliffe when Coleman attempted to make his move in the summer of 2008.

But Stanley’s finances meant a deal could not be done and the Reds boss hopes that missed opportunity does not come back to haunt him tomorrow, if Dawson is fit again after a facial injury.

“You pay your money, you take your chances,” said Coleman, who has also seen another former target, ex-Vauxhall Motors striker Paul Taylor, recently join Belgian giants Anderlecht.

“We weren’t prepared to pay the money for Craig.

“He’s a good player and I think for his own good he should stay at Rochdale for a little bit longer and develop his career. He’ll get a good grounding from Keith Hill.”

Former Blackburn Rovers defender Hill looks set to guide Rochdale, currently eight points clear, out of the fourth tier for the first time in 36 years this season.

“Rochdale are the best team in the league,” said Coleman.

“I think this year they’re a team to aspire to. Rochdale fully deserve to win the league and they will win it.

“But possibly at this stage of the season the points are going to be more important to us than them because they’ve got a cushion at the top.”