James Beattie has set his sights high after being named Stanley’s new manager.
The Reds avoided relegation with a game to spare and will continue to have arguably the lowest budget in the Football League next season.
But given the spirit and the quality the team showed towards the end of the season – and the squad he believes he can put together this summer – Beattie is confident of steering Stanley to a much more successful campaign.
The 35-year-old, who was appointed on Monday, even reckons the Reds will be capable of challenging not just for promotion next term but the League Two title.
“The target this year will be to go up as champions,” he said. “Some people might laugh at that but I think you’ve got to aim high. The players that I’ll bring in will be able to get us as close to that as possible.
“We’ve got a good core of the squad that we’ve discussed we’re going to keep,” added Beattie, who’s signed a two-year contract.
“There’s some great lads here, some very good players, and I’ll build a team around them. We’ll work together to get players in and to push the club forward.
“We’ve spoken about establishing ourselves as a League One club. That’s the aim, that’s what I’m here to do, and hopefully that’ll be sooner rather than later.”
Such a bold statement may seem overly ambitious, especially as it came on Beattie’s first day as Stanley boss.
But the former England international, who joined the club as a player-coach last November, is not worried about raising expectations in his first management campaign.
“It’s not pressure,” he said. “Pressure’s having to go out and fight for your nation, to be a soldier and have people shooting at you.
“That’s pressure. This is not pressure, it’s a pleasure to do it. That’s why I’m sat here.”
Indeed, Beattie admitted he was lost for words when chairman Peter Marsden told him the job was his after being interviewed on Monday.
“I’m delighted, I can’t wait to get started,” he said. “It’s a massive opportunity for myself and for the club. Everyone’s been very enthusiastic about me getting the job.”
Beattie added: “It came as a massive surprise when the chairman phoned me. I was speechless actually.
“I’ve never been short of words but it took me a while to compose myself. I felt very humbled and privileged that the chairman even asked me. But it was an opportunity that I couldn’t turn down.”
Beattie was actually recommended by his predecessor Leam Richardson, who brought the ex-Everton and Southampton striker to the Store First Stadium.
That planted the seed in Beattie’s mind and having not yet contemplated a move into full-time management, he confirmed his interest.
The former Blackburn trainee expected to continue playing for another few years, so is yet to earn his coaching badges. But he begins the necessary courses this summer.
He will also register as a player next season.
“I’d concentrated so much on staying in the league I hadn’t really considered what I was going to do the year after,” Beattie said. “I know now that Leam, when he left, put my name forward to the board so I owe him.”
