ACCRINGTON Stanley chairman Eric Whalley believes manager John Coleman could be in the Reds hot-seat for many years to come.

Coleman completes his eighth full season in charge of Stanley this afternoon as he takes his side to promotion-chasers MK Dons.

And once the club's final League Two match is over, he will finalise player contracts and begin to strengthen a squad that will hopefully challenge the division's top teams rather than scrap away again near the relegation zone.

Whalley intends to give all the financial support he can to Coleman, although not at the expense of forcing debt-free Stanley into financial difficulties.

As the Reds brace themselves for a busy summer, Whalley admits his working relationship with Coleman remains as strong as ever, and he does not anticipate making a change in manager any time soon.

"This is John's eighth season and there's nothing to say he won't be here for another few years," said Whalley.

"He's done really well with the players we have.

"We have our ups and downs, but we do have a drink together now and again!

"We do get into one or two arguments, but we've always managed to think of the club in the end and it's been a good relationship.

"I look after him. At the end of the day, it's a neutral thing."

Coleman is looking at bringing in seven or eight' summer signings to make sure Accrington do not have to face another relegation scrap.

Although Stanley do not have the resources to spend big, Whalley intends to provide Coleman with adequate funds to sign the players he wants.

Whalley added: "Anything that John's ever asked for, I've always made available.

"It's got to be done with a view in mind that you can only afford what you can afford to pay.

"I would imagine we are only one of a few Football League clubs, certainly in the lower leagues, that can say they are in the black.

"We've only four players contracted for next year, so he is going to have to look around and see which players he wants to keep and what new players he wants.

"It's up to John. But it's no use us paying £200,000 for a player because he would want £2,000 a week in wages.

"It's not the fees, but the wages that cripples things.

"These clubs that throw money to sign players, I don't believe in that.

"Players should be paid what they are worth."