WHO’D be a football manager?

Burnley boss Eddie Howe has spent the summer searching the market to ‘tweak’ his squad – as yet to no avail – while at neighbouring Accrington Stanley John Coleman was faced with a rebuilding task on the eve of the first day of pre-season.

After long-serving Reds defender Phil Edwards announced he was leaving for newly-promoted Stevenage – a controversial move given that the Hertfordshire club beat Stanley in the play-offs – Terry Gornell was tipped for Inverness, then Joe Jacobson and Jimmy Ryan joined Shrewsbury and League One Scunthorpe United respectively.

Crisis was partially averted when Coleman announced that captain Andy Procter, Luke Joyce and Dean Winnard had agreed new deals.

More are expected to follow suit and commit themselves to their gaffer’s remit for year-on-year improvement.

This year will be a tough act to follow, especially if there are any more departures from former teacher Coleman’s class of 2010/11.

But if anyone can do it, Coleman can.

He’ll be frustrated, at best, that key players have gone.

But that steely will to win – be it at football, head tennis or ‘I Spy’ – will drive him on.

He nurtured Wigan reject Edwards into one of the best defenders in the division and threw a footballing lifeline to Jacobson and Ryan.

There will be plenty of others only too happy to be taken under Coleman’s wing.