Leam Richardson admitted the transition from player to manager is a tricky one – but he doesn’t intend to be a ‘gaffer’ who dishes out the hairdryer treatment too often.

The 32-year-old gave a hint that his reign will be more about talking and consultation than shouting and blasting after his first match in charge.

While the Reds were coasting at 4-1 at the break on Saturday, a couple of slips made it 4-3 and Stanley had to dig in for the win against promotion rivals Gillingham.

"We were hanging on and they were always going to throw themselves at it but it was our own mistakes that caused the problems," said the new boss.

"We addressed it in the dressing room after the game as we went around the players and asked each individually what they thought.

"They were all on the same page as to what I had to say, so that was pleasing despite conceding three goals.

"You can’t do anything about the free kick for their first and Bavs (Ian Dunbavin) has put his hand up about his mistake for the second.

"He is gutted about it and that’s the reaction you want.

"Then Gillingham upped the pressure as they had to go for it but we held out for the win.

"The hardest thing for me in transition from player to manager is addressing such things and I don’t want to fall out with anyone, you have to address them in the right way.

"Before the game, the players were eager to listen and learn and after the game they were too. I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect week."

He continued: "The most pleasing aspect for me was that we had spoken about Gillingham and where to expose them in the first half and the players took it on board and, in the first half, it worked a treat and we could have got more.

"We played with freedom and caused them problems. We have carried the momentum on from the last few months."

Loan man Michael Smith scored a first-half hat-trick on his home debut, turning on the style for the new management after originally signing for former boss John Coleman from Charlton until the end of the season.

"I told Michael before we went out, I said: ‘You are on loan, any chance of a couple of goals’?" said Richardson. "He said ‘yes’ and came in after the game and said ‘there you go’.

"Michael deserved it, he is keen to learn and has ability.

"I was also pleased Luke Joyce got on the scoresheet as I told Joycey he had to start scoring goals so we can sell him for a couple of million!"

And Richardson had the full backing of the fans throughout the game and admitted that was a big boost for him and the team.

"I heard the fans singing when we were winning, I didn’t hear it when we were under pressure as I was concentrating too much!

"But I have said all along we need everyone to pull together and realise what we are striving for still.

"It’s obviously big changes but we are still in there and the fans played a massive part and we need a lot more of that."

And he admitted he had done what a good boss does – and rewarded his players’ efforts.

"I told them if they won on Saturday they could have Monday off. You have got to reward them.

"If they win every Saturday, they can have every Monday off for me."

And he is now in the driving seat to make those decisions.