An unexpected weekend off due to snow will not have been what Leam Richardson and the Accrington Stanley lads would have wanted after last week’s cracking victory over Gillingham.

It would have been a perfect time to play Crewe Alexandra with a couple of their regular defenders suspended and a renewed vigour in the Reds camp but alas even clubs like Crewe cannot beat the weather.

Richardson would have been keen to cement his position at the top of the list of candidates to fill the vacant manager’s post and another win for the Reds would have made the board’s decision an even tougher one.

Paul Cook is another name very much in the frame and the rumour mill is in full swing with sightings of him at hotels in Accrington this week and his no show for Sligo’s pre season friendly.

I think, if possible, it would be good to see Cook and Richardson given a chance of joint managership with perhaps Leam being a number two to the slightly more experienced Cook.

I only say this as the manager’s job at Stanley is highly reliant on the loan market and with two heads at the top there would be two sets of contacts on which to call upon for future signings.

This Saturday, weather permitting, we entertain Oxford United who sit above us in the league only on goal difference and another home win for the Reds would put us firmly back in the play-off spots.

I am now over John Coleman and Jimmy Bell’s departure and I am very confident that an automatic place is not out of the question this season.

With only 17 games left this season and Stanley currently nine points off third place we are in a perfect position for a final push for promotion.