Accrington ST's owner and chairman Andy Holt has revealed he sacked long-serving manager John Coleman and assistant Jimmy Bell by WhatsApp message. Coleman managed Accrington ST for more than 12 years across two spells, the most recent of which saw him and Bell take charge for nearly a decade prior to a brief statement on Sunday announcing their departure. Many fans were dismayed by the nature of the dismissal but Holt has now explained his thinking, citing an interview Bell did with Radio Lancashire earlier this season where he expressed a wish for longer contracts for himself and Coleman, as well as poor performances, as the catalyst. Holt reacted furiously to the interview, declaring the club up for sale. Accrington ST were relegated from League One last season and currently sit 16th in the League Two table. Coach John Doolan was appointed as interim manager following the departures of Coleman and Bell. The club's owner stated that the continued funding of losses stops at the end of this season, with losses of £600,000 last season and £1m this season. Holt said he chose to fund the losses because he still believes Accrington deserves and desperately needs a great club. The decision to sack Coleman and Bell was made due to a combination of poor performance and public disagreements. Holt claimed that Coleman and Bell went public and divided the fanbase, an action that he did not deserve, having looked after them extremely well in his time at the club.