Accrington Stanley chief reveals he sacked John Coleman by way of WHATSAPP

On Mar 7, 2024

John Coleman managed Accrington Stanley for almost 25 years throughout two spells
He was sacked on Sunday in a transfer that was controversial amongst their fanbase
The prime 5 misses of all time… and Erling Haaland is not No 1 – Listen to the It’s All Kicking Off podcast

Published: 11:26, 7 March 2024 | Updated: 14:32, 7 March 2024

Accrington Stanley chairman Andy Holt has launched an astonishing 1,105-word rant defending his determination to sack long-serving boss John Coleman and his assistant Jimmy Bell.

Coleman managed Stanley for 1,098 video games in nearly 25 years throughout two spells, the newest of which lasted for almost a decade previous to a quick 43-word assertion on Sunday saying his departure following a 4-0 defeat by Wrexham.

Many followers had been dismayed by the character of the dismissal – which got here with Accrington sitting sixteenth in League Two and eight factors off the play-offs – and hit out at Holt, who deleted his X account shortly after the announcement.

But on Thursday, Holt broke his silence on the choice, revealing he sacked Coleman and Bell by WhatsApp message, whereas he additionally accused them of dividing the membership and blamed them for Stanley’s £1.6million losses over the previous two seasons.

Posting on the membership’s web site in an article that was titled: ‘STATEMENT: Chairman, Andy Holt, in his personal phrases and unedited’, he stated: ‘I WhatsApp messaged and texted each John and Jimmy at round 9AM (on Sunday) telling them of the choice. I additionally knowledgeable them the membership would put a press release out quickly.

Accrington Stanley chairman Andy Holt has accused long-serving boss John Coleman and his assistant Jimmy Bell of dividing the club and revealed he sacked them via WhatsApp

Accrington Stanley chairman Andy Holt has accused long-serving boss John Coleman and his assistant Jimmy Bell of dividing the membership and revealed he sacked them by way of WhatsApp

The decision to dismiss Coleman after nearly 25 years across two spells was controversial

The determination to dismiss Coleman after almost 25 years throughout two spells was controversial

Holt had also been slammed that the statement announcing their exit was just 43 words long

Holt had additionally been slammed that the assertion saying their exit was simply 43 phrases lengthy

But he responded by breaking his silence on Thursday with an astonishing 1,105-word rant

The extremely emphatic defence of his decision was shared on the League Two club's website

The extraordinarily emphatic defence of his determination was shared on the League Two membership’s web site

‘Both messages to them and that put out by the membership could also be used towards the membership, so it needed to be easy, easy and seemingly chilly.

‘I’ve labored with John and Jimmy and more often than not it was nice, and enjoyable. They carried out badly in our relegation season, I did not sack them like EVERY OTHER OWNER would have.’

Holt’s anger in his assertion appeared to be in relation to an interview Bell did with Radio Lancashire earlier this season the place he expressed a want for longer contracts for himself and Coleman.

At the time, the Accrington chief – who took over Stanley in 2015 – reacted furiously and put the membership – who had been relegated from League One final season after 5 years within the third tier – up on the market.

He added: ‘They made severe errors and regardless of this I didn’t need it to finish. They went public and divided our fan base most likely perpetually, an motion that I did NOT deserve, having sorted them extraordinarily effectively in my time on the membership.

‘I knew with out retraction our relationship was over. Despite having months and months to do that, they didn’t.

‘Around 10 days earlier than the ultimate day I spoke at size with Coley, it was nonetheless a situation {that a} assertion needed to be put out permitting me to rebuild a united entrance for the membership. It NEVER got here.

‘It was a mixture of poor efficiency and the general public disagreements that resulted ultimately.’

During the astonishing tirade towards the administration duo who took Stanley from the Northern Premier League to League One, Holt additionally described their recruitment of gamers as ‘dreadful’ and stated his religion had been ‘undermined in them’.

Holt additionally went onto reveal that the Accrington board felt Coleman and Bell ought to’ve been sacked on the finish of final season, however Holt saved religion with them because of their historic work, whereas promising to evaluate the scenario at numerous factors this season.

Holt continued: ‘Despite this Jimmy went on Radio Lancashire telling the world the way it was “their club, they built it and that they wanted three or four-year contracts”.

‘This was deliberate and in my thoughts was executed for a number of of the next causes:

Holt slammed Coleman (pictured) and Bell for their 'dreadful' recruitment last season

Holt slammed Coleman (pictured) and Bell for his or her ‘dreadful’ recruitment final season

Andy Holt’s full 1,105-word rant

An replace from me… relating to the termination of John Coleman’s and Jimmy Bell’s contracts.

I’m now ready to share some primary element behind my determination to not renew the contracts.

Why?

A. Last yr the recruitment of gamers was dreadful. Many performances had been very poor, accidents had been many. We had been relegated from League One. During the season Jimmy typically complained too many gamers had been being engaged with not sufficient high quality.

It undermined my religion in them.

B. At the tip of final season, I had a gathering with John to debate this present season. Whilst I used to be in that assembly, Jimmy was ringing one other director saying ‘with that team we’re being relegated once more’ or phrases to that impact.

C. The Board’s place was that they need to be terminated. Their efficiency merited it.

D. It was mentioned and urged that they deserved credit score for previous historic nice work on the membership, they deserved a final probability.

E. This was communicated to them verbally in a gathering involving me, John, Jimmy, and Dave.

The crux of it was to offer them an opportunity. We’d evaluate round Christmas 2023 and if we appeared protected, we’d prolong their contracts for one more season. The extension can be for one season solely however may very well be repeated indefinitely if we acquired again to our regular performances.

F. Despite this Jimmy went on Radio Lancashire telling the world the way it was ‘their club, they built it and that they wanted three or four-year contracts.

This was deliberate and in my mind was done for one or more of the following reasons:

G. The calling me out in Andy Bayes’ interview was GUARANTEED to divide our membership. I communicated this to our managers on the time and advised them that they had ‘killed me’ as proprietor of the membership. A collection of followers would demand I give longer unsustainable contracts, others would say I ought to have terminated earlier.

This divide has been evident from that day to this. Even after the termination of contracts the fan base continues to be divided and extra so than ever.

They needed to retract the assertion giving a united platform for proprietor and supervisor to sing from the identical hymn sheet.

They refused to take action. Despite months passing by with alternatives each day to proper this challenge, it by no means got here.

When?

It has been stated that I acquired up ‘out of the wrong side of the bed and sacked them’.

This was not true. The final day in February this yr was at all times pencilled in as a again cease date. The cause is that many gamers are working out of contract, and the supervisor, whether or not or not it’s John or Jimmy or one other, wouldn’t have had time to arrange for subsequent season.

Around 10 days earlier than the ultimate day I spoke at size with Coley, it was nonetheless a situation {that a} assertion needed to be put out permitting me to rebuild a united entrance for the membership. It NEVER got here.

How?

I WhatsApp messaged and texted each John and Jimmy at round 9am telling them of the choice. I additionally knowledgeable them the membership would put a press release out quickly.

The cause it was put to them on this means is that, had I mentioned (once more) with them a blended message might have resulted. Both messages to them and that put out by the membership could also be used towards the membership, so it needed to be easy, straight ahead and seemingly chilly.

Finally, MY remark.

I’ve labored with John and Jimmy and more often than not it was nice, and enjoyable.

They carried out badly in our relegation season, I didn’t sack them like EVERY OTHER OWNER would have.

They made severe errors and regardless of this I didn’t need it to finish. They went public and divided our fan base most likely perpetually, an motion that I did NOT deserve, having sorted them extraordinarily effectively in my time on the membership.

I knew with out retraction our relationship was over. Despite having months and months to do that, they didn’t.

It was a mixture of poor efficiency and the general public disagreements that resulted ultimately.

Their performances led to losses final season of £600,000 adopted by this season of £1,000,000. Losses that I’ve a alternative, both fund the membership or put directors in.

I selected to fund the losses as a result of I nonetheless consider Accrington deserves and desperately want a terrific membership.

But the continued funding of those losses stops on the finish of this season.

I misplaced confidence in them after almost two full seasons of poor performances.

I misplaced religion in them as a result of they appeared to lose the fireplace of their stomach’s.

I misplaced belief in them as a result of they divided our fan base, once they knew full effectively I used to be doing my upmost to work by way of the issues. I’m off Twitter for now as a result of I knew how an excellent variety of followers would really feel. I’m not getting right into a slanging match.

For me to proceed to work with the membership I’ve to be comfortable. Why would I put cash right into a membership to be sad?

Now then.

All the above DOES NOT take away from their achievements on the membership. I absolutely respect their report, I perceive followers which were round them for many years, have misplaced their heroes.

There ought to be correct recognition of their achievements. Coley’s bar was known as Coley’s bar for a cause. It will stay Coley’s bar.

I consider they’re good at what they do and deserve first rate jobs going ahead.

I passionately consider I’ve to take the membership down one other steady, long-term path, my job is to create a membership that lasts lengthy after my time or that of any manger or participant.

I’m nonetheless doing my greatest.

I knew this was coming. I provided the membership on the market with out receiving a single bid.

I’m trapped between funding the membership or placing it into administration.

I selected to proceed funding it ONLY if it may be placed on a steady path, an end result I do know is achievable.

That’s what is occurring and the place I stand.

Good morning, BTW.

‘The calling me out in Andy Bayes’ interview was GUARANTEED to divide our membership. I communicated this to our managers on the time and advised them that they had “killed me” as proprietor of the membership. A collection of followers would demand I give longer unsustainable contracts, others would say I ought to have terminated earlier.’

Holt insisted that he revered and appreciated the work of Coleman and Bell however highlighted the membership’s monetary plight after numerous errors and final season’s relegation, earlier than he seemingly blamed his former teaching crew for his or her predicament.

‘Their performances led to losses final season of £600,000 adopted by this season of £1million,’ he added. ‘Losses that I’ve a alternative, both fund the membership or put directors in.

‘I selected to fund the losses as a result of I nonetheless consider Accrington deserves and desperately want a terrific membership. But the continued funding of those losses stops on the finish of this season.

‘For me to proceed to work with the membership I’ve to be comfortable. Why would I put cash right into a membership to be sad?

‘I passionately consider I’ve to take the membership down one other steady, long-term path, my job is to create a membership that lasts lengthy after my time or that of any supervisor or participant. I’m nonetheless doing my greatest.

‘I knew this was coming. I provided the membership on the market with out receiving a single bid. I’m trapped between funding the membership or placing it into administration.

Holt insisted his relationship with Coleman (left) and Bell (centre – pictured in 2015) was over

Accrington were relegated from League One last season, but Holt had kept faith with the pair

Accrington had been relegated from League One final season, however Holt had saved religion with the pair

He signed off the bizarre rant in even stranger fashion by ending with 'Good morning, BTW.'

He signed off the weird rant in even stranger trend by ending with ‘Good morning, BTW.’

‘I selected to proceed funding it ONLY if it may be placed on a steady path, an end result I do know is achievable.’

To prime off Holt’s weird rant after greater than 1,000 phrases, the Accrington chief concluded: ‘That’s what is occurring and the place I stand.

‘Good morning, BTW.’

Coach John Doolan was appointed as interim supervisor following their departures and can lead the aspect for the primary time towards Bradford City on Saturday.

Premier League

Read extra: