John Coleman has known Joey Barton since he was a little boy – and says his personality is good for football.
Stanley's assistant manager Jimmy Bell used to play with Barton's dad at Knowsley and Coleman, along with the young Barton, used to watch the games.
Barton is now manager at League One side Fleetwood – with the Reds travelling to Highbury on Saturday.
“I have known Joey a long time and whenever we come across each other we have a chat,” said Coleman.
“He has a good personality to be a manager – he is a deep thinker about the game, he knows about the game and I have chatted with him since he took over at Fleetwood. I think he will do a really good job – although I hope not on Saturday.
“He is a character and I don't think there are enough characters in the game. There are things in his past he probably regrets but you have to look forward and not back.
“If you listen to managers sometimes, they say the same thing, they could be any one of 20 managers but with Joey, he is honest, you will sometimes get a controversial opinion and he makes it interesting. It will never be dull when he is around!”