MYSTERY surrounds the sensational sacking of Accrington Stanley manager Stan Allan after just two games of the new season.

The club called an emergency board meeting after Monday night's 2-1 home defeat against Barrow and Allan and coach Jimmy Coffey were told their services were no longer required on Tuesday lunchtime.

But neither the club or Stan Allan would reveal the reason why he was shown the door after 18 months in charge at the Crown Ground.

Accrington started off their Unibond League Premier Division campaign with a 2-0 win at Colwyn Bay on Saturday - a game Allan missed through illness.

Allan said: "I thought I had seen everything in football but obviously not. I am deeply upset and very angry in the way this situation has been handled.

"I pride myself on the relationship with the players and would say I had a good relationship with the chairman and the Director of Football, Brent Peters." He added: "I have left the club in a much healthier state than when I came here. When I joined they were struggling in the bottom three of the table and I got them up to seventh place last season.

"To sack me after two games seems very strange and a lot of people will think it's very strange as well. I can't help think that we have been set up."

Club chairman Eric Whalley refused to comment but Director of Football Brent Peters said: "It was unfortunate but inevitable than Stan Allan had to leave the club after the way certain situations had been handled at the club during the past week to 10 days. They were unacceptable to a club of Accrington's standing."

Assistant manager Ian Rishton has taken over the running of the team on a temporary basis and is preparing the side for Saturday's visit of Runcorn and Tuesday's trip to Marine.

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