Stanley chief executive Rob Heys says there is no rush to appoint a manager as they will give Leam Richardson a fair chance at securing the post full-time.

Heys admitted it’s been a week of contrasts with the players at a low on Monday with the news of John Coleman and Jimmy Bell’s switch to Rochdale – after personal terms and compensation were agreed with the duo contracted to the Reds until 2015 – but the Crown Ground was buzzing on Tuesday as the players got behind the new regime.

Richardson is assisted by youth team boss Phil Hackney and midfielder Bryan Hughes.

Already Paul Cook, Garry Flitcroft, Liam Watson and Ronnie Moore have been linked with the job and the club has already had up to 60 applications this week.

"There is no rush," said Heys. "Leam and his team seem settled and the players want Leam in charge. I will admit on Monday there were tears. I was gutted to see John and Jimmy go and it’s hard to accept that you won’t be working with them on a day-to-day basis again.

"I think people mourned Coley and Jimmy’s move on Monday night and, on Tuesday, everyone came in with a new attitude. While John and Jimmy deserve credit for everything they achieved, the players are the ones who have scored the goals, kept clean sheets and won three points and they have got to maintain that self-belief.

"It’s now Leam and Phil’s job to do that and it is a popular decision. Leam has already discussed bringing in a couple of players and we will do our best to help him. It’s a new chapter for the club. We won’t rush into any permanent appointment as we want to make the right decision and want a manager who will come to Accrington for, hopefully, more than 10 years like the last one."

The transfer deadline is on Tuesday with Heys saying part of Coleman’s move away was not to take players from Stanley in this window.