Accrington Stanley: are they struggling to come to terms with life after Coleman?

John Coleman’s successful 13 year stay with Npower League Two side Accrington Stanley came to an end when he took up the reins at League One strugglers Rochdale. But has his departure left Stanley in a vulnerable position?

When Coleman left for Spotland at the end of January, he left his former employers on the fringes of the playoff places and with a realistic chance of claiming a fourth promotion under his leadership.

However, with the former Southport striker off to face an ominous League One relegation battle with The Dale, Stanley’s transitional period of life after Coleman hasn’t so far had the desired effect. Although the Lancashire based club sit comfortably in mid-table, there is a danger that under new boss Paul Cook the Crown Ground club’s original aspirations of gaining a place in the English third tier, could be replaced with the long term longevity of trying to remain in the Football League.

Without a win in his first four games in charge, Cook secured his first point with Saturday’s 2-2 draw with financially impaired Port Vale, and with it came the first two goals under the former Stanley midfielder’s regime. Nonetheless the previous three defeats had surrendered eight goals giving Stanley fans a negative portrayal of how the club would react to Coleman’s exit.

The remaining 13 games of this season will provide an indication of where the club is likely to head in the near future. The League Two outfit face a tricky end to the campaign with trips to promotion chasers Southend, Torquay and Cheltenham still on the horizon.

Even though the club look safe in mid-table looking at it from a long term perspective, the departure of the clubs longest serving manager and the third longest serving manager in English Football, could still have bearing on the route that the club will take.