Accrington Stanley owner Andy Holt deletes his Twitter account after sacking manager John Coleman after 10 years in charge.
The incredibly short club statement read: “Accrington Stanley can today confirm that John Coleman and Jimmy Bell have been informed that their contracts are terminated with immediate effect.
“Everyone at the club thanks them for their long-standing service and we wish them all the very best for the future.”
📝 #asfc can today confirm that John Coleman and Jimmy Bell have been informed that their contracts are terminated with immediate effect.
Everyone at the club thanks them for their long-standing service and we wish them all the very best for the future.
— Accrington Stanley (@ASFCofficial) March 3, 2024
Then a day later, Accrington Stanley Managing Director, David Burgess said: “The Accrington Stanley Board of Directors want to thank John Coleman and Jimmy Bell for everything they have done for Accrington Stanley Football Club.
“Without John and Jimmy, Accrington Stanley would not be an EFL club.
“From coming here in 1999 and leading Accrington Stanley back into the Football League after 44 years was a dream come true for everyone then associated with the club.
“Their commitment to the club throughout their two managerial stints was unquestionable, and that along with their successes, has made the club what it is today.
“With the probability of making the promotion Play-Offs rapidly diminishing, we decided to make the changes now so we had time, between now and the end of the season, to work on what we feel is needed in the future for the best of Accrington Stanley.
A further statement: Accrington Stanley can today confirm that John Doolan has been appointed as Interim Manager.
Doolan, who has been First Team Coach at the Wham Stadium since June 2017, was part of the management team that led Stanley to the League Two title in 2018.
The 55-year-old previously played for the club and captained the Reds to the 1999/00 UniBond First Division title.
Doolan spent four years of his playing career at Wigan Athletic between 1992 and 1996, and worked at both Liverpool’s and Everton’s academies after retiring.
He was then appointed as Wigan’s youth team coach, before moving into the first team role with The Latics in the Premier League.
A 2014 move to Hibernian as first team coach followed, where he celebrated Scottish Cup success with victory over Rangers at Hampden Park.
Doolan will be in charge for tomorrow evening’s Lancashire FA Senior Cup semi-final against Burnley, before focusing on Saturday’s League Two clash at home to Bradford City.
Goalkeeping Coach, Andy Dibble, and Head of Sports Science and Performance, Chris Scholes, remain in their respective roles.
Doolan said: “I have been asked to take over the reigns at the club and I will do the best job I can.
“My main focus is now on Bradford City on Saturday, and I ask all the fans to get behind the team as they always do.”
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John said going into the game against Wrexham this weekend that he felt “blessed” to be Accrington Stanley manager.
Coleman had been 10 years into his second stint at the club and was the second longest serving manager in the Football League behind Harrogate Town’s Simon Weaver.
But it seems Coleman’s tenure has come to a bitter and sad end after managing Stanley for nearly 1,100 games across two spells, leading their return to the EFL in 2006.
“I still feel blessed to be doing a job I love, a job I dreamed about all my life,” the 61-year-old said per BBC Sport.
“I wasn’t good enough to be a professional footballer, but the next best thing was to become a professional football manager.”
Coleman was first named manager of then Northern Premier League club Accrington in 1999, before guiding them to three promotions and a return to the EFL after 44 years out of it.
Coleman departed for Rochdale in 2012 but then came back to his true home Accrington Stanley two years later and took them to League One in 2018, but were relegated in 2023 after five years in the third tier.
His side currently sit 16th in League Two this season but 8 points off of the playoff places.
“I don’t get blase about it. The novelty has not worn off,” he told BBC Radio Lancashire.
“We’ve been full-time now for 20-odd years and that novelty won’t wear off because it’s something I thoroughly enjoy.
“I think I transmit how much pleasure I get and my enthusiasm still transmits to the players of how lucky I feel.
“And I keep on reminding them how lucky they are.”
Last time Accrington faced Wrexham, Stanley won 2-0 and ended an 11-game unbeaten run for Wrexham, but anger emerged between the two sides surrounding an increase in ticket prices for the match at Accrington.
“I think they felt slighted that they were beaten by ‘little’ Accrington Stanley,” Coleman said.
“We’ve proved over the last 12, 15 years that we’re no longer little Accrington. We may be in terms of monetary value and what we can pay, but we live within our means and we’re rich in spirit.
“It’s not a shock when we do well, it’s not a shock when we beat so-called bigger teams.
“We played them and beat them and that will still be hanging over this game.”
🎥 Coley on today’s game.
— Accrington Stanley (@ASFCofficial) March 2, 2024
Coleman said, per Lancashire Telegraph after losing the second meeting with Wrexham 4-0 on Saturday: “It was clinical finishing by Paul Mullin, it was the big difference. We gifted them a couple of chances and he’s punished us.
“I’ve got to take my hat off to them, they had the bit between their teeth. They scored the goals at the right time.
“We’ve given them things to cheer about and you’re coming here wanting to stay in the game. The first two goals were totally avoidable, all goals were but the first two hurt and then it’s damage limitation.
“Second half, I thought we rolled our sleeves up and didn’t get humiliated. We could have scored a couple ourselves and then the body blow is getting Lewis Shipley sent off.
“It’s disappointing. I think it could have been sold as a yellow, with a bit of empathy for the game, 92nd minute and being 4-0 down, it’s not going to influence the game being a red.”
SEE MORE: Chairman Andy Holt announces Accrington is ‘up for sale’ in outburst on social media
This is how fans reacted as Accrington owner Andy Holt deletes his Twitter after sacking manager John Coleman after 10 years in charge…
@PaulSenior1: Are you taking the piss? They deserve better than that, after such brilliant and long service
@jamesbell_89: Is this statement for 2 people who have given nearly 25 years service to the club?
@lukecfc5: As Paul Cook said recently, John Coleman doesn’t get anywhere near enough credit for the job he’s done at Accrington, this statement proves it.
@GusFairlie22: A real shame. Poor way to treat two absolute legends. What they did for Stanley was unbelievable. Fear for the future now.
@duncanyoung68: A truly graceless statement. Over 2 decades at the club, John Coleman has the respect of many in the game and deserved better than this shoddy paragraph.
@2022benclay: 25 years and that’s the send off? This should already put candidates off the job
@pfcmichael: Crikey, Andy holt has shown he has no class whatsoever recently. Very poor
@2jonkershaw: I’m not an Accrington fan but if I were I’d feel pretty disappointed at such a perfunctory statement regarding two guys who’ve given decades of dedicated service to the club. Stay classy, Stanley.
@neilhaj: I had already resigned myself to them leaving at the end of the season but this statement is a smack in the face for two icons who have given so much to the club. Thanks for the memories guys 💔
@capsnbovril: From the outside that’s horrendous wording for such a club legend. Media team’s had a nightmare there.
@WallySpire: 25 years of service and this is how you treat him. Shocking
@coventrypie: Wow – statement seems to display a lack respect for the job and service over so many years- punched above their weight on many occasions – lack of class from the owner and club IMO
@cs_16s: Absolute disgrace. Embarrassing
@CMerrills22: Andy Holt terminates their contracts, puts out this statement and deletes his twitter account 😂
@theshrew88: A very short cheap statement given how many years he’s been there and how much he’s done for you in his long time there you’re not going down or up this season so shame on you Mr Holt
@harryt84: Talk about short and not so sweet. That’s on a par with sacking Troy Deeney. Where’s the respect for two guys who’ve lived & breathed the club for over two decades. Such a lack of class and respect shown here. Then again, sacking them now 🤷🏼♂️ let them get to the end of the season.
@GazPar81: Andy Holt potting Coley and then deleting his twitter is top tier shithousery.
@WHorrigan: Gillingham fan here. I don’t know the background of the termination but this communication is classless. 23 years+ service over two spells. Good luck John & Jimmy in whatever you do next
@Brendonwafc: That’s a shocking statement for someone who’s been there for so long. Took you up to League 1 with a tiny budget and that’s all he gets 🤦🏼
@UTG_29: Bit of a crap statement for such long serving staff! The chairman writes more when crying about iFollow numbers, or how it’s not fair there are bigger clubs than Accrington in the league!
@MicGribbins: Clearly they deserved more than a half assed statement on the website. Embarrassing.
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