Time for Change?
 

Simple question really.

This season has been built up to be one of Accrington Stanley's most successful campaigns on the field. However for one reason or another this has been followed through. After 11 years at the helm, 3 of those in League Two now I'm suggesting it's time for Coleman to go.
He has assembled a good squad with a few chops and changes capable of being there or abouts for the play-offs for next season. He's had 2 real attempts at pushing on, if you ignore the first season, and it looks like there hasn't been much change in league position overall.

Anyway, I'm ready to be slated... give me your worst...

Re: Time for Change?
 

Im sorry,
but I couldnt disagre more.
IMO, when comparing our squad to the rest of league 2, 3 issues glare out at me.

1. its is smaller
2. it is younger
3. it cost nothing (With the exception of McConville)

Survival is a good achievement in Accrington Stanleys limited circumstance. I say limited because of
1. ground quality and size
2. location (small town alongside 2 premiership clubs who are big ticket discounters)
3. finances which ultimatly means lower wage scales
4. atractiveness to player - lets be honest, we are no bradford city or notts county

What Coleman has and continues to do is amazing.
My biggest fear is Coleman and Bell will grow frustrated with the above circumstances and move on elsewhere to a club with more clout to meet their ambitions.

Re: Time for Change?
 

Time for a change,
and who else do you have in line? i agree with dav007 we arnt the atractiveness of clubs, no big ground, own training facilites, big wage budget to spend, but what coleman has achived is nothing sort as a miracle, 11 years, better posistion ever year, promotion to the football league, something which not alot of fans thought would ever happen, brought in some great players, i only been supporting since 06 but craney, roberts, mullin, richardson, etc and now we have the best young squad about, players like winnard, edwards, ryan, grant, turner, also getting the best out of players like symes this season, him and jb are the only men for the job and i hope they have signed the 3 year contract, only way i can see these going is another club higher up, why move sideways.

Long may coley and jb be at the helm of hms stanley

Re: Time for Change?
 

Coleman is GOD

Re: Time for Change?
 

Simple as that.

The only thing I'd add is that Coley and Jim are clearly eager to learn in order to satisfy their ambition. If you think that Coley has exhausted his talents, you're wrong. It's not like we're stuck with a League 2 journeyman like Peter Jackson with stale old tactics; we have a duo who will only get better at their profession and I hope they'll perfect it here at Accy.

Since when did bettering the previous season's record for over a decade become sackworthy?

:confused:

Re: Time for Change?
 

I thought it was 4 years in the league plus stanley have done far better than anyone in the same situation given money, crowds etc. This is the first year we have had so many games to go and we don't have to panic. As things stand Stanley are not equiped for promotion and much as I would like to see it, it isn't going to happen soon. Coley has done great and to think we can do better is pure fantasy for now.

Re: Time for Change?
 

Coleman has done great this season getting us in to a play-off chasing position and geting us into the 4th round of the F.A cup, even when we were one of the favourites for relegation. You cant seriously want him to go???? :(

Re: Time for Change?
 

I am not saying it is time for a change but maybe a change of direction, Coley & Jimmy have developed as the Club has grown coming through the Leagues.

They still have a lot to learn and a lot to develop with Players none more so than building for next season.

Maybe a Full Time Coach to work alongside them would help them develop the playing side of things?

But don't kid yourselves that despite Budgets Managers and Coaches or even retiring Pros of Repute would not be interested in Stanley should the position ever became available, we are one of only 92 Leagues Clubs some people would give their hind teeth for a crack at it.

Re: Time for Change?
 

Bloody mental to suggest Coley should go if you ask me - what more do you want other than constant improvement ? We are punching above our weight and you are complaining we aren't even higher. Nonsense. The question isn't if it is time for Accrington to part with Coleman but more if it is time for Coleman to part with Accrington. It is only a matter of time before he gets offered a job at a League 1 or Championship club, he is one of the best managers in the football league.

Re: Time for Change?
 

See signature .... that's all.

Re: Time for Change?
 

Best post in this thread.

Re: Time for Change?
 

Coley and jimmy bell freedom of east lancashire!

Re: Time for Change?
 

He's hardly smashed last season's record! Currently one place above and last season there was minimal improvement.

Re: Time for Change?
 

Darlington have got an ex-Championship manager in Simon Davey, and I'm sure Stanley is a more attractive proposition than the Quakers.

Re: Time for Change?
 

ACC. STAN. 2008-09 FL-2 46 13 11 22 42 59 50 16/24

14 Accrington Stanley FL-2 41 16 06 19 56 66 54

Smashed, maybe not, but, more points, more goals and better footy - until the last six weeks - all in all, a big improvement... :) :) :)

Re: Time for Change?
 

**** again to day hes dun stanley . let him going thanks for good time and bad but time to go

Re: Time for Change?
 

I do really feel for Coley & Jimmy we think we are hurting it must be far worse for them at the moment this is the team they have put their faith in?

Only they will know what is contributing to our poor form at the moment

There is only pride left to play for, nothing to lose by experimenting and changing our positional play and team around to try to work it out and hopefully give them markers for squad strenghthening in the Summer.

Re: Time for Change?
 

Think the players are knackered .. its been a long season and ok they had an unforseen break in january when the weather was bad but now having to make up for it.

If you compare to rochdale .. Accrington have played 56 games so far this season - Rochdale have played 46. Accrington have 22 players signed up to the 1st team .. Rochdale have 33 .. plus with everything that went on earlier in the season think thats whats happened .. everybodys knackered and the end of the season probably cant come soon enough .. then they can have a break and rest ..and get rid of any niggling injuries .. etc .. and come back next season ..

Re: Time for Change?
 

Admittedly, a return of 12 points from a possible 51 is poor. That said, I'd agree with some posters on here with a modicum of common sense, who cite the small squad, financial constraints and the number of games we've had to play.

However the doubters, who again start banding " it's time for a change of leadership" make me want to reach for a large bucket. Oh so quiet when things are going great, but at the first sign of adversity, they suddenly start harping on about getting somebody else in to replace the men who have worked a minor miracle to get Stanley where they are now.:mad:

Reality check for the dreamboats. Stanley have a very small and (in the majority ) loyal fanbase. That equates to a limited income, equating to a smaller budget than most. That means a smaller squad and in a season like we've had off the field, it's an achievement that, for the first time since the return to the league, we were effectively safe from relegation at the start of March !!!

Yes, this season has fizzled out with all the promise of a damp firework, but the positives for me way, way outweigh the negatives. Yes, today it looked like a few of the players were "going through the motions" so to speak.:(

But I'd probably hasten to add, if you read Coley's notes in the programme today, he probably has a good idea of who stays and who will go in the summer and I'm sure this recent drop in form has probably made his mind up in a few cases. He probably has players in mind who he wants to bring to the Crown and with a more financially stable footing to work on, I for one am confident that he'll improve on this season.

And for all those who have somebody in mind (ala the earlier poster with his mention of Simon Davies at Darlo, who I suspect will probably have a larger budget than Coley to work with next season in the B.S.P. / Conference) How can you speculate who, or for that point, who would not do a better job than Coley with the limited resources we have ???:confused:

To the doubters i'd personally say, Get a grip and get behind Coley. If you want Glory every season follow the rest of the lemmings up the M66 to Manchester.:rolleyes:

I'm all for constructive debate, but to cite such b******t without having the substance to back up the arguement smacks of somebody who has little better to do than gripe or whinge at the first sign of adversity.:enough:

Re: Time for Change?
 

didnt newcastle try that once? and look at what happened to them...


if you bring one bloke in and he does bad will you suggest to get rid of him before he has a chance to get used to everything and change how stanley play. If you do get rid of that guy then you will end up another person with another style of play which the players have to get used to.

why not keep the coleman who actually done well considering we were favourites to go down and then you got all the other factors other have mentioned.

Re: Time for Change?
 

Well said Shillelagh - you've hit the nail right on the head, at the start of the season if anyone had said we'd get to the 4th round of the FA cup & play a premier league side at home & get as far as we did in the JPT & go out to Leeds at Elland Road but that the season may peter out a little towards the end - who wouldn't have taken that?
For goodness sake, in October it looked like we may not even have a club to support - so let's look back on the positives & look forward to next season

Re: Time for Change?
 

excellent post. i agree 100%
another improved season from Coley and Jimmy.
already looking forward to next season. hoping for play-offs.
on stanley on

Re: Time for Change?
 

If you had asked me on a non-matchday because whatever I feel about the management goes out the window whilst I support the team. I still would've said it was time for change. 11 years is a long to be in a job and whilst stability does bring success e.g. United and Arsenal change always stops people from hanging on to the past. Anyway if I had written this the day before the Fulham game you would have sent an ambulance to my house as you would've thought I was going insane...

Personally I think Coleman is a great non-league manager but surely if we want to get promoted we need someone with that experience which unfortunately he lacks.

Re: Time for Change?
 

The only way you gain experience is by being in the job

JC & JB do have their limitations and achilles heels but don't we all?:)

Re: Time for Change?
 

Coley and Jimmy continue to learn and grow. to put things in perspective, Stanley are comparatively beginners in this league. We`re doing ok. improving year on year works for me. they call it progress. We`ve had our expectations raised this season, so now we`re left disappointed. every team, every season has a bad run. ours,unfortunately, is at the end. we will get better under Coley. patience and support is the key.

Re: Time for Change?
 

We are naturally a non-league team. We are living the god damn dream here in the league. Every season we stay up is a success, demanding promotion is madness, the next step is another season where we aren't in the relegation battle, not league 1. Constant improvement, season in, season out what more could you ask for ?

Carpon, excellent post.

Re: Time for Change?
 

The point I am trying to make is that no two better men are suited to move Stanley onwards from the present position than the two at the helm now. They have had no money to work with since we got back to the league, gates have dropped from the Conference winning season and we have consistently improved.:o

The same two men who are invariably linked with jobs at other clubs at bigger clubs. Testament to what they have achieved during their tenure at Stanley. :D

The doubters may point to the old adage that a " fresh broom sweeps clean" or an arguement to that effect.

The point I, and I'm sure is echoed by the majority of sane minded Stanley fans is, that our broom handle (i.e. the finances) is considerably shorter than most competing at our level.

Talk of promotion is nice, I too would want to see the Reds move up another rung on the ladder, as I'm sure Coley and Bell would like to manage our club at the next level.:o

Simple facts state, that unless the fans start pouring back through the turnstiles, our lot as Stanley fans will always be one of struggle. Unless of course our illustrious neighbours suddenly either flounder or fold. That of course will not happen; and as a club, geographically we are stuck between a rock and a hard place.:(

I'd be quite happy to watch League One at the Crown with nice regular gates of about 3-4000. Compared with watching Marine at the Crown in front of 3-400 we are light years away from that now, with only 10 years passed.

Simple fact, we probably, with resources, facilities and current crowds could not support League One Football. That is not stopping Coley and Bell trying to give us that level of football.

I am sure that Coley & Bell are despairing, and I'm sure that the majority of the players are gutted, that this season is petering out in the way that it is doing.:o

If you're going to come out with ridiculous statements that somebody else can do a better job, then all I will say is substantiate it with and back it up with a supporting arguement.:mad:

Our main priorities are:

Secure the services of our main performers and get rid of the dead wood(and for that I'll post in the other thread )

Ensure that Coley and Bell sign the deals offered. At least if they decide to go to a bigger and better club we will get compensated.

Get the facilities (i.e ground improvements ) sorted and

Sort out the pitch / playing surface.

If we get all that sorted then I'm confident that we'll be licking Barcelona in the Nou Camp in the Champions League inside ten years:rolleyes:

Short of that I'll settle for League One inside the next five!!!!:D

All i'll say is that........:signthis:

Re: Time for Change?
 

No way should Coleman and Bell be shown the door. I agree with the posters who say they should stay. To achieve what they have on half a shoestring is truely remarkable. However, I will comment on how people would 'jump' at the chance to manage Accy- I asked Bobby Gould (he lives here in Havelock Nth) and he said, (in a nutshell), "YES".

Re: Time for Change?
 

We weren't involved in a relegation battle this season, in fact for a little while we were involved in a play-off place chase. Surely next seasons target is to get closer to the play-offs i.e. top half finish at the very least.

Re: Time for Change?
 

...and don't forget who engineered the local bragging rights.

Given a decent budget and a playing surface to match then maybe JC could also be up there...with us :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

Re: Time for Change?
 

I would disagree with at least 2 of these points.

Location could/should be used to our advantage. We are at the centre of football's heartland, not some remote outpost (Lincoln, Hereford, Grimsby). We are not the only small club to have Premiership neighbours nearby (Tranmere, Stockport, Barnet, Brentford) and we should take advantage of that. Our Tuesday night games should be marketed far more effectively in Blackburn and Burnley (and Preston). We should also make a bigger effort to attract fans on Saturdays when there are no Premiership matches.

Attractiveness to player. I'm not sure what this means, unless it is linked to No. 3 (wage scales). We are a Football League team so we will be attractive to ambitious young players. If we keep presenting ourselves as a small-town club with a small-town mentality, that will become self-justifying and we will be viewed by others as.....well, a small-town team.

Finances. To be honest, I'm not sure what to make of our financial situation. Ilyas Khan and Peter Marsden have done an unbelievable job this season and have at least stabilised a sinking ship. But what of the future? What of another high-profile individual at the club? Is there a business plan that places importance on improved player wages?

Ground quality. Again, I'm not sure what you mean. If you are referring to the playing surface, I agree. That needs a huge investment. But I cannot see what relevance the ground size and infrastructure have on our league position.

On the general question of the suitability of the management team, I retain an open mind. There can be no doubting what they have achieved so far.

Re: Time for Change?
 

One of them won't be a premiership club next season and definately not ticket discounters, in fact the prices for next season have gone up.

One of the reasons they do well though is exactly what Stanley need, they are effectively a community club. One of the biggest successes is the links with local businesses. They haven't spent years alienating them ;)

Re: Time for Change?
 

That is so very true you don't have to go to far to see the link whether that is the kids playing football run by Burnley Community Team, or people who use the Gym facilities at the Club or walk past a shop in the village with a "By Appointment" sticker in their window or the local Building Society offering some sort of Clarets Account.

It's in your face everywhere you go I think there would be very few places in Accy or Hynburn where the links are straight back to the Club, The Community Lads do a great job of taking it to the youngsters and maybe there are link ups with the Local College in Accy?

It is another area that perhaps dosn't need massive resources chucking at it but something that needs time & patience for somebody to be out there knocking on the doors of local employers & shops building up relationships even if it is only a poster for the next game:)

It has to start somewhere

Re: Time for Change?
 

you've started talking a lot of sense again recently Neil! good to have you back after a few quiet months :p