LEIGHTON James was named today as Accrington Stanley's new manager.

The former Burnley star and ex-Welsh international will take charge for the first time tomorrow night when Stanley take on Lancaster City at the Crown Ground.

And Stanley chairman Eric Whalley believes the club have picked the right man for the job from a host of applications.

"We have tried two prominent non-League managers in Stan Allan and Tony Greenwood and now we are going in a different direction," he said.

"Leighton is a high-profile name and we hope he can attract better players to the club.

"There aren't many Welsh internationals, with more than 50 caps, in charge of a club of our status.

"But he is ambitious, as we are, and people will take notice of what he says.

"We had more than 30 applications, including two from former Football League managers. "Some of the applicants were very impressive. We drew up a short list and hope we have made the right choice."

James revealed that the Stanley job was the only one which could have tempted him back into the game.

After stepping down from full-time football, he has had charge of Gainsborough, Morecambe and Netherfield but has not been directly involved for some time.

"This is a big job. Accrington Stanley is probably the biggest name in non-League football in Great Britain," he said.

"Some people might look on it as a millstone. I look at it as a great challenge.

"Numerous jobs have come up but I haven't been interested because few of them would be able to match this one.

"Accrington Stanley have the same ambitions as I have.

"I have seen the team play on a couple of occasions and the spirit looked good. The support for the club is also passionate and fervent and the only thing I would ask of the supporters is a little patience while I give the players a chance to prove themselves to me.

"We have a tough few months ahead because we have to get nearer the top of the league than the bottom."

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