Stanley look to future after Coleman exit (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Stanley look to future after Coleman exit

8:42am Wednesday 25th January 2012 in News By Chris Flanagan, Sports reporter

LEAM Richardson has insisted that Accrington Stanley can still challenge for the League Two play-offs without John Coleman after being appointed as the club’s caretaker manager.

Coleman and assistant Jimmy Bell were yesterday unveiled as the new management duo at League One side Rochdale after bringing to an end more than 12 years at the Crown Ground.

First-team coach Mark Patterson has been put on gardening leave, with Accrington wary of losing further staff to Spotland, so Richardson is in temporary charge with help from fellow senior player Bryan Hughes and head of youth Phil Hackney.

Richardson is now preparing the side for Saturday’s home game against Gillingham and he has stressed that the Reds’ rise into play-off contention does not have to stop following Coleman’s exit.

“Not at all, we’re within touching distance,” said the 32-year-old former Blackburn Rovers defender, who insists it is too early to consider whether he would like the job full time.

“Nothing is broken. We’re in a good vein of form, we’re in a good position and we’ve got the same players.

“I’ve got a good relationship with the lads and a lot of them asked me personally to put myself up for the role of caretaker, but luckily I got asked rather than having to.

“John and Jimmy have been like an institution at Accrington, but we’ve got to move forward.”

“We had a meeting with the lads, they have responded quite well and training went great.”

Patterson was yesterday made bookmakers’ favourite for the job after a number of bets were placed on the ex-Blackburn midfielder.

The 46-year-old has confirmed his interest after insisting he has no plans to join Rochdale, although it remains to be seen whether his gardening leave could complicate his chances.

“I want the job,” he said. “I’ve been at a the club for two-and-a-half years, I know the club and I know the league.”

Former Burnley and Stanley star Paul Cook is second favourite and is believed to be under consideration, while Andy Ritchie has admitted he could be interested, but chief executive Rob Heys says the club will take their time before making a decision.

“We’ve had CVs from all over the world so there’s plenty of options out there,” Heys said.

“Probably over the next week or so there will be two or three names who come to prominence as we talk things through, and you’d like to think that Leam and his team might also cause us a nice problem by winning some games.

“But you’ve got to be careful of thinking of someone too quickly and not opening yourself up to other possibilities.

“We want someone who is going to be with us for another 12 years.”