5 Exciting Things About League Two Next Season
2. James Beattie
James Beattie is a man who holds 5 England caps, has scored 90 Premier League goals and has been a well-loved figured at all the clubs he played for . In his advancing years however Beattie dropped down the divisions looking for more regular football. He was offered a role as player/coach last year down at Accrington Stanley and took it playing 25 times and netting 6 goals.
Stanley have been a team in an odd state of transition after long severing manager John Coleman left and Paul Cook went near the end of last season. Stanley had a tough term last year sucked into a relegation battle, they survived but now with Cook leaving the role of manager has been turned over to Beattie.
Like many ex-players Beattie is starting a role in management with a lower league club looking for the same success people like Roberto Martinez and Paolo Di Canio have found. Lower league managers have their coaching badges and its a great to work down the leagues gaining experience. For James Beattie its a great appointment a club he played with for a year so he knows they players and as he did some coaching too he knows how the backroom work too.
Beattie on TV and in interviews has always appeared to be a very well-spoken and smart man and as a manager hopefully he and Stanley will be a good match for each other as another ex-player now young up and coming manager will look to make an impact and become a top flight manager.