John Coleman paid tribute to Stanley’s record appearance holder Paul Mullin after he retired from full-time football last week.
Morecambe striker Mullin was seeing a specialist last week after talking to the Observer about Stanley’s promotion push and admitted he was struggling with a slipped disc this season.
And the injury has meant the 37-year-old has had to give up full-time football after more than 450 appearances for the Reds as they rose from the UniBond Premier League into League Two before his switch to the Shrimps.
Coleman said: "I was joking with Paul saying he had to blame me for making him stay on for 20 minutes when we were 6-1 up against Castleton Gabriels.
"But Paul was a fantastic servant for me, he played through a lot of pain and now he is probably suffering for it but the one thing he did say to me was that he doesn’t regret a minute of it.
"He enjoyed the bulk of his career here and played a lot of games and I wish him all the best for his future.
"He is a fantastic professional, a great player and a good friend as well. He has got a great appetite for the game and I hope he ends up at Radcliffe!"
Radcliffe was where Mullin was playing when Coleman snapped him up for £15,000 in August 2000.
"My body told me enough was enough and I have had to listen to it. Coley used and abused me and then cast me aside," joked Mullin. "But I have enjoyed all of it and the highlight was taking Accrington into the Football League."
Coleman said whichever part-time club attracts the hitman, they will be lucky.
"They will be getting a gem," said the Reds chief.
Former team-mate Andy Procter said: "Mullers was my room-mate for a long time. I know he is disappointed to end his career now with an injury but he has had a fantastic career.
"And to go full-time later in his career is a credit to how he looked after himself.
"I will miss him but, whichever semi-pro club gets him, they will be getting a great target man."
Mullin announced his retirement last Friday – April 15 – five years to the day he scored the goal to win the Conference for the Reds at Woking. "He timed his retirement perfectly," added Coleman.
