Rochdale have appointed long-serving Accrington Stanley boss John Coleman as their new manager.

Coleman agreed terms on Monday to end a 13-year spell in charge of Accrington and a compensation settlement between the clubs has cleared the way for him to succeed Steve Eyre at Spotland.

Assistant Jimmy Bell will join Coleman and the duo's first game in charge will be against local rivals Bury on Saturday.

Rochdale are currently second bottom of League One, four points from safety, and have failed to win any of their six games under Chris Beech, who took caretaker charge following Eyre's sacking in December.

Accrington chairman Ilyas Khan paid warm tribute to Coleman, whose tenure at the Crown Ground made him the third-longest serving manager in English football.

"The history books of football will record that John Coleman and Jimmy Bell fulfilled and then surpassed the standards set by the very best, in terms of longevity, achievement, loyalty, dedication and professionalism." Khan told Stanley's official website. "I do not think that anyone has contributed more to Accrington Stanley than the duo, and I have nothing but praise and prayers for their success. God bless him."