THERE are still 11 games of this League Two season remaining but Accrington Stanley manager John Coleman already has one eye on next season, and is using tomorrow’s opponents Burton Albion as a benchmark.

The Reds had a head-start on the Brewers in the Football League, having won the Conference three years before their rivals followed suit in 2009.

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But after Coleman’s side were pipped in the play-offs in 2011, it is Burton who now look likely to take the next step up into League One.

Although Stanley inflicted defeat on Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s leaders less than three weeks ago, through Josh Windass’s first professional goal, the Midlands club remain on course for automatic promotion.

They go into tomorrow’s re-match two points clear of second placed Shrewsbury.

After initially harbouring play-off ambitions on his return for second spell as Stanley boss in September, an 11-point gap to seventh place has left Coleman instead making plans for next term rather than this, including the types of players he wants to attract and keep, in an effort to be where Burton are now in 12 months time.

“We still have to have half an eye on next year as well. We’ll be speaking to players who are currently here, and players who aren’t currently here, trying to get ahead of the game because with the best will in the world we’re not going to be able to go out and outbid teams so we’ve got to try to do our business before the end of the season really, and try to formulate the basis of a squad that can challenge,” said Coleman, who spoke of his admiration for Burton, and feels both clubs are a good advert for non-league clubs looking to earn their place in English football’s top four divisions.

“For getting themselves in and establishing themselves, without a doubt.

“They’re a good side and they’ve got good players, they’ve got a great infrastructure and I quite like them as a club. I like the way they’re run. I get on really well with their board of directors.

“I think after the initial few games we used to have in the lower leagues when their fans didn’t used to like me I don’t think they mind me now.

“They’re fans have always been good here. I can remember them when Jonathan Smith scored a great header here and they brought a load of fans. Nigel Clough scored for them. It was a great atmosphere.

“It’s nice when you’ve grown up with a team when you see them prospering. It wouldn’t surprise me if they did well in League One.

“Hopefully we can do what they’ve done this year next year.”