THE tough new regime at Accrington Stanley is starting to pay dividends.
That's the view of Stanley goalkeeper Jamie Speare - one of only four players to survive the shake-up under player-manager John Coleman.
Speare claims the side's commitment has been the key to their turnaround in fortune.
The more selfish players, such as last year's top scorer Billy O'Callaghan have been weeded out to make way for players with a stronger team ethic.
And it is in that environment, which has helped earn Stanley the November team of the month award, that new golden boy Gary Williams has flourished.
Speare now finds himself a relative veteran at the Crown Ground, having signed at the start of Stanley's ill-fated UniBond Premier campaign last season, and is well-placed to assess the transformation.
He said: "There's a completely different attitude compared to last season and I believe it's down to the manager. A lot of the players knew Coley before they joined and they know he doesn't take any messing around.
"Last year too many players didn't seem to care about the club, they just came, played and picked up their money. That has been the main change - we have a bunch of lads now that really want to play for each other.
"Last year there were too many playing for themselves. It took a while for us to gel and get to know each other, but now things are coming together." Speare wasn't unhappy to see the back of last season's top scorer O'Callaghan, who moved to Prescot Cables for a four-figure sum in September with just one goal under his belt.
Speare said: "I think Billy decided when he wanted to play and when he didn't. I can't speak for all the lads, but I personally don't have time for people like that and I would rather see players who are more committed.
"We've found an able replacement in Gary Williams and there's now a lot of skill in the side as well as hard work."
The Reds, who consistently leaked goals in last year's failed relegation fight, now have one of the tightest defences in their division. And although their away form has been patchy this year, they clinched a key away win against Belper Town last Saturday.
Speare said: "We had a bad couple of games in the FA Trophy recently and we needed last week's win to get us back on track. It was a tough game but it's given us back our confidence."
Meanwhile, boss Coleman has told young gun Williams to ignore rumours of a big-time transfer and let his goals do the talking.
Two of the UniBond Division One's leading strikers will go head-to-head when the Reds take on Ossett Town at the Crown Ground tomorrow - but either player-manager could steal the limelight by bagging goals themselves. Ossett striker Scott Jackson is the division's third leading scorer, four goals behind Williams who has notched up 19 in cup and league. Jackson scored the second-half equaliser which denied Stanley a point when the two sides met back in October. Like Coleman, Ossett boss Gary Brook is a goal-hungry player-manager who leads by example. A former Blackpool striker, Brook has frequently found the back of the net for the West Yorkshire side. Williams' recent form means he continues to be the subject of transfer speculation. Burnley boss Stan Ternent has admitted keeping an eye on the youngster, although he has denied Williams is a transfer target. Williams, a lifelong Clarets fan who trained with Charlton Athletic during the summer and has attracted interest from Sheffield Wednesday and Blackpool, would love a move to Burnley if it were offered.
Coleman said: "I've told Gary Williams to just carry on playing the football he is playing for Accrington Stanley and see what happens.
"He has a great talent, and if he got a move to a League club then that would be great and we'd be pleased for him. But for the moment we just want him to keep on doing his stuff."
Despite Ossett's lowly 19th position, Coleman is not underestimating the threat Ossett could pose, especially through their player-manager. He said: "Gary Brook has been around and he is always going to be a danger, and like me he's got the added spice of managing.
"He is well experienced and he is capable of unlocking our defence. So is the other lad (Jackson) who has knocked their goals in. But we've got little Gary and we're going to concentrate on ourselves rather than worry too much about them." Stanley went into the two sides' last encounter in October on the back of some high-scoring wins. But the Yorkshiremen took the lead early on, and despite going ahead before half-time, Stanley were held to a disappointing 2-2 draw.
Coleman said: "We had a good win on Saturday and we're looking to carry that on. Ossett are a better side than their league position suggests and we'll be under no illusions."
Assistant manager Jimmy Bell and defender Robbie Williams are both recovering after successful knee operations this week, but boss Coleman has reported an otherwise clean bill of health and will be able to choose from his strongest squad for tomorrow's game.
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