Punching above their weight in the fourth tier – Stanley find themselves just three points off the playoffs at the time of print – no mean feat with average crowds of just over 2000 and a modest budget that wouldn’t look out of place in the Blue Square Premier. Months ago, that’s where Stanley looked like ending up – or worse.
It was only in October when a £308,000 tax bill threatened to end Accrington’s future. There was a horrible sense of déjà-vu about the whole thing – the original Accrington Stanley folded under a mountain of debt in 1966, before a new club was re-born and began climbing its way back up the non-league pyramid under the stewardship of Coleman.
Coleman has been in charge at Stanley since 1999.There was to be no repeat this time, though. The club’s debts have been paid and their future has been assured. And under the shrewd Coleman, who has been there throughout their Football League tenure - they’ve gone from strength to strength.
Stanley climbed to 8th in the table during a productive January in which Coleman was nominated for the league’s manager of the month award. The club’s form was strong in the cup competitions too – Stanley were far from disgraced in games against Leeds in the Johnstones Paint Trophy area semi-final and Fulham in the 4th round of the FA Cup - a run that equalled the original club's best ever run in the competition.
Stanley took Fulham to the limit at the Crown GroundSuffice to say, Coleman is now a wanted man. After the resignation of Stuart McCall, Bradford City have been linked with the 47 year old in recent weeks, and both Crewe Alexandra and Tranmere Rovers may be looking for more permanent managerial appointments in the summer.
Certainly, the aforementioned clubs could do worse than look at Coleman – a man who has created a dynasty at the Crown Ground in a productive 11 year spell. The likeable scouser plays an attractive brand of football, and has always worked well with a small budget. He’s served his apprenticeship at this level, but has he taken Stanley as far as they can go?
Stanley may be going for the playoffs in this campaign, but even the most ardent of fans know that survival is the best they can hope for at this level. Coleman deserves the opportunity to test himself at a bigger club if he’s to further his managerial career.
Years ago, the joke was on Stanley. Who were they, people asked? The boy in the advert may have only been good enough to play for Accrington Stanley, but Coleman deserves the chance to let his name be heard. It’s about time someone took a chance.
