Accrington Stanley To Give Leam Richardson A Chance
by Mick Bates / 27 January 2012, 10:36TweetManagerless Accrington Stanley are preparing to give caretaker boss Leam Richardson a chance to prove his credentials, with Saturdays match at home to Gillingham providing the perfect opportunity for the 32-year-old to make an impression. Richardson, who is joined by youth team coach Phil Hackney and the experienced senior player Bryan Hughes, was installed as caretaker manager earlier this week following the departure of John Coleman and his assistant Jimmy Bell to League One strugglers Rochdale. Coleman, who spent a whopping 13 years at the Crown Ground, was a big loss and it will take everyone associated with the club some time to get used to his absence.
Richardson has stated that he is eager to continue the bright start the club have made this season under Coleman and he will be looking to draw from the experience he has of working under nine different managers. Stanley currently sit 10th in the table, just two points outside the top seven and depending on other results this weekend a win against Gillingham could see them enter the play-offs. Stanley are the 7/5 favourites with Stan James for the three points, while Gillingham have been priced at 19/10, with a draw available at 23/10. Stanley can currently be backed with odds of 14/1 to get promoted at the end of the season.
Matt Patterson is currently the early frontrunner in the Next Accrington Stanley Manager Betting. The club are believed to be interested in someone with a connection to the club, for example a former player like Paul Cook, who is in charge of the League of Ireland side Sligo Rovers. Chorley boss Garry Flitcroft is in the running as of course is Richardson and also David Unsworth, with the former Tranmere boss Ronnie Moore putting his name forward too.
Odds courtesy of Stan James.
