Accrington Stanley have announced that interim manager John Doolan has taken the role on a permanent basis, signing a three-year contract, according to the official club website.
The decision to terminate the contracts of manager John Coleman and his assistant Jimmy Bell was made earlier this month. The duo had been in charge since 2014, making them one of the longest-serving management teams.
The Lancashire side had suffered four defeats in their last six prior to their departures, winning just one of those games and the final straw for the board was the 4-0 hammering at promotion-chasing Wrexham.
Doolan has been in temporary charge since then and has four points from a possible nine for the 16th-placed side. The 55-year-old joined in 2017 as a first-team coach and helped to guide them to promotion to League One in his first year in his new role.
A delighted Doolan enthused: “I am very excited to take this role full-time, I am happy, I just can’t wait to get going. I want to thank Andy Holt and the Board for giving me this fantastic opportunity, it is an honour to manage this club.
“Now the buck stops with me, the players are asking questions, the staff, there is everyting to manage, but I have taken that responsibility on since I became Interim Manager and I have embraced it.
“The first week I was all over the place emotionally, but right now I am enjoying every single minute of it.
“I have been here seven seasons now and it’s important to have continuity.”
📝 #asfc are delighted to announce the permanent appointment of John Doolan as the club’s First Team Manager, with John today signing a three-year plus contract at the Wham Stadium.
— Accrington Stanley (@ASFCofficial) March 22, 2024
Congratulations, John!
Chairman, Andy Holt, added: “Having known John for several years, I’m confident he has the attitude, aptitude, and footballing ability to ensure our club grows and is run in a stable manner.
“As I’ve said before, it is with pride I view our club, Academy, Community Trust, and operational staff.
“John will work with the entire club, a club united behind a bright future.
“I look forward to helping John in his pursuit of the right people, and to assist him over the coming years wherever possible.”
The first test for Doolan and his new players sees his side face bottom-of-the-table Sutton United, who themselves are fighting for their football league lives.
Over the Easter weekend, they then face play-off chasers Morecambe before a battle against top-of-the-table Mansfield Town.
Writer’s View
This seems a strange on. With so many out-of-work managers available and Holt stating at the time they wanted to take a different direction, they’ve promoted from within and used one of Coleman’s staff.
From a player’s perspective, however, continuity is very important and they will all be very aware of who Doolan is and what he stands for. Interesting few months ahead for Stanley with plenty of players fighting for a new contract.
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