Accrington Stanley have appointed James Beattie as their new first-team manager.
The Reds confirmed last week they would begin interviewing for the vacant manager’s position on Monday
And they swiftly confirmed Beattie, a former England international, would be succeeding Leam Richardson in the Stanley hotseat.
Richardson and Beattie remained friends from being trainees together at Blackburn in the late 90’s and Richardson lured him to the club last November, with Beattie taking on a player-coach role.
While working with the Stanley players on the training ground, Beattie still had plenty to offer himself. The 35-year-old striker scored seven goals in 20 starts to help the Reds maintain their League Two status with a game to spare.
Richardson then left to join Chesterfield as assistant manager to former Stanley boss Paul Cook.
After making just four appearances for Blackburn, Beattie went on to score 81 Premier League goals for Southampton and Everton. He also won five England caps.
He joined Stanley after spells with Sheffield United, Stoke and Rangers, with this his first managerial appointment.
Richardson’s assistant Paul Stephenson had also expressed an interest in the manager's job.
