Coleman in Command

Waterford FC have confirmed today that John Coleman is to be the next permanent manager of the Blues. The 62-year-old will be in attendance at Tolka Park for Monday’s clash with the champions, Shelbourne, before taking over from Interim Head Coach Matthew Lawlor. The Irish Independent’s Daniel McDonnell is reporting that Coleman will sign a contract through 2027 and that Danny Ventre, who played for him at Sligo Rovers, will come in as his assistant manager. 

A prolific goalscorer in his non-league playing days as a striker, Coleman is best-known for his incredible longevity and success during two spells as manager of Accrington Stanley. He spent a total of 22 seasons in charge of the Lancashire club from 1999 to 2012 and 2014 until March of last year. His first term with Stanley was marked by three promotions to lift them into the Football League for the first time in 44 years. On his return, after a brief period in Sligo, Coleman led Accrington to promotion again as League Two champions and was rewarded with the EFL Manager of the Year award for 2017/18.

Waterford had initially sought a manager from within the League of Ireland and were close to appointing Ruaidhri Higgins before he chose to stay closer to home with Coleraine. Talks continued with Ireland Under 21 coach Stephen Rice this week, but the club has opted for the opposite end of the scale in terms of managerial experience instead. Others to have been considered included Colin Healy and Duncan Ferguson while Matt Lawlor was not able to commit to a permanent move at present.

 

 

John’s most recent role was as manager of Gillingham from January through March of this year. He took over a side struggling near the foot of the League Two table and managed them for fourteen league games that saw two wins, seven draws and five defeats. He was sacked and replaced with Gareth Ainsworth, but Gillingham’s on and off-field issues this season make it difficult to judge his success or failure there. 

One current Blue who will know all about his new boss is captain Pádraig Amond. Coleman took the then-23-year-old ‘Podge’ to Accrington on loan from Portuguese club Pacos de Ferreira in 2011. They had half a season together in League Two before the manager ended his first term in charge of Stanley in order to take over at Rochdale. Coleman spent a year at 'Dale before he was sacked in January 2013. Later that year, he returned to Southport, for whom he had been a record goalscorer in his playing days, but this time as manager for the National League club. 

Next up, there was that short stay in the League of Ireland. Coleman arrived in Sligo at a difficult time in June 2014. Ian Baraclough, who had brought the 2012 league title and 2013 FAI Cup to the Showgrounds, was sacked after a poor start to the season. Many fans disagreed with that decision and that, together with high expectations and a change in style of play, meant they were slow to warm to the new manager. 

He got off to a great start, however, with a 4-0 Europa League win against FK Banga of Lithuania and then led Sligo to a shock 2-1 first-leg win away to Rosenborg with goals from Alan Keane and Danny North. They were unlucky to go out after a 3-1 home defeat in the second leg against a strong team packed with internationals like Morten Gamst Pedersen.

 

Danny Ventre battles with David Grincell in the 2009 FAI Cup semi-final

 

It was the league form that frustrated fans, but that was a continuation of earlier struggles. The Scouser was in charge for eleven league games which resulted in five wins, two draws and four defeats – reasonable form, but not enough to get back into the European hunt. Sligo fans and media commentators bemoaned what they claimed was a more direct approach to the football being played with defender Evan McMillan often being used as a target man up front. 

By mid-September, with European qualification off the cards and budget cuts agreed, Accrington came calling after they sacked James Beattie. A compensation package was agreed and Coleman was replaced with Owen Heary as Rovers boss. John admitted that the chance of managing Stanley again was “too hard to turn down” and his mixed first spell in the League of Ireland came to an end.

Eleven years on, he will meet several familiar faces back in Ireland. Current Sligo manager John Russell was a regular in Coleman’s team in 2014 and will now be battling against him to stay in the Premier Division. Cork strikers Seánie Maguire and Ruairi Keating were youngsters at Sligo under Coleman along with Shamrock Rovers star Aaron Greene. 

This looks a strong appointment by Waterford with Coleman’s vast experience in the English Football League and lower tiers of the pyramid appearing to be a good match for the current needs of the club. His record at Accrington was remarkable so if he can recreate some of that magic here, then nobody will be left asking “who are they?” when it comes to the Blues.