JOHN Coleman wants the people of Accrington to join him on Stanley’s dream football journey – and insists there will be more good times to come at the Crown Ground, regardless of the result of this afternoon’s FA Cup fourth round tie with Fulham.

Coleman goes into dugout head to head this afternoon with former international manager and ex-Rovers boss Roy Hodgson as Fulham come a calling in the biggest game in Stanley’s history.

But the Reds manager, who along with loyal assistant Jimmy Bell, has piloted Stanley’s course from non-league into League Two, is adamant that today’s tie is only a stepping stone for the club.

“This game is not the end of a journey,” Coleman told the Lancashire Telegraph.

“This match is just a stopping point along the way. I want to take this club further and I see no reason why we cannot win another promotion.”

Stanley are well placed for a crack at the League Two play-offs but the manager knows crowds must improve if the club is to match Coleman’s ambition.

Just 1,322 turned out for Tuesday’s third round win over Gillingham and low crowds were in part to blame for Stanley’s crippling cash crisis, which pushed them close to extinction earlier this season.

Added Coleman: “We got into the situation with the winding up order because the fans did not come in and support us.

“Maybe you should go for the worst case scenario when you work out a budget for a football club – but we had gone for the worst case scenario plus another 10 per cent off and still got into trouble.

“You can’t legislate for it but we need the fans to come and support us.

“There is no reason why we cannot win another promotion but we need the fans behind us. I can’t knock the ones who come though. Just 1,300 came along on Tuesday but they made the noise of 6,000.

“And you have to be mindful that you can’t criticise the town too much because if you do you alienate them and they will never come back.

“Regardless of the result we have to make the people who are coming to the Fulham game come back for the bread and butter matches.”

Coleman is ready for the tie – and knows his players will be with the freshness of youth a delight to work with.

“The average age of our team is about 21.72 recurring,” he laughed. “Every day it is a pleasure to be in their company, the banter is good and they are keen to learn.

“They will learn from Fulham.”