CITY will face a strange experience next weekend – Accrington without John Coleman.

Stanley yesterday sacked long-serving boss John Coleman and assistant Jimmy Bell after their 4-0 weekend loss at Wrexham.

It was their third consecutive defeat and they have won just one of the last seven games to slip below the Bantams into 16th on goal difference.

City have faced Accrington 19 times this century, since September 2004, and remarkably Coleman has been in the opposing dug-out on every occasion.

He has faced nine different City managers in that time from Colin Todd to Graham Alexander in November.

Accrington today confirmed that first-team coach John Doolan has been put in interim charge ahead of City’s visit on Saturday.

Coleman was a fixture in the Crown Ground hot-seat from 1999 to 2012 and then returned for a second spell two years later.

The 61-year-old oversaw the club’s rise up the non-league pyramid and into the Football League in 2006.

He clinched the League Two title with them in 2018 but a five-year stint in the third tier ended in relegation last season.

Former Bantams boss Gary Bowyer is among the early favourites with the bookies for the vacancy.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Gary Bowyer is high in the odds for the Accrington jobGary Bowyer is high in the odds for the Accrington job (Image: Thomas Gadd)

Accrington managing director David Burgess said in a club statement: "Without John and Jimmy, Accrington Stanley would not be an EFL club.

"From coming here in 1999 and leading Accrington Stanley back into the Football League after 44 years was a dream come true for everyone then associated with the club.

"Their commitment to the club throughout their two managerial stints was unquestionable, and that along with their successes, has made the club what it is today.

"With the probability of making the promotion play-offs rapidly diminishing, we decided to make the changes now so we had time, between now and the end of the season, to work on what we feel is needed in the future for the best of Accrington Stanley.

"We understand that some fans may not agree with us, but it is the board's job to make decisions to ensure that Accrington Stanley as a football club continues to develop moving forward.

"We wish John and Jimmy all the very best for the future."