PAUL Mullin has been backed to go on a goal spree after ending his 17-match drought on Tuesday, and Accrington Stanley boss John Coleman thinks the striker could join the club’s coaching staff when he retires.

Mullin had not found the net since February before he scored a late winner in the midweek Carling Cup victory over Walsall, and will now be keen to add to his tally in tomorrow’s League Two clash at home to Lincoln City providing he overcomes a slight rib injury.

The 35-year-old had been loaned out to Bradford at the end of last season before being put on the transfer list in the summer, but Coleman had always been keen to stress that those decisions were for financial reasons, with Stanley’s cash woes leaving them struggling to pay Mullin’s current wages.

Although the manager opted to overlook Mullin when giving the captaincy to Andy Procter last week, he was nevertheless pleased that the club’s all-time leading scorer was taken off the list on the eve of the new season.

While keen to play on for some years yet, Mullin has been taking his coaching badges with an eye on the future and Coleman hopes he will continue to have a role at the club when the day comes that he can no longer play.

“I’d like to think so,” said the manager.

“He’s well respected, he’s quite insightful into football and I think he’s got an air of authority about him, which you need if you’re going to step into coaching.

“Being put on the transfer list didn’t really affect him because it wasn’t because of his ability, because we didn’t like him or didn’t want him.

“It was purely a financial decision.

“It was nice for him to be taken off the list and the club have accepted that we’re not going to ease the burden with the wages.

“We’ll bat on with it and be thankful that we’ve got one of the best strikers in the league.

"He’s got another year to go on his contract and his effort and commitment towards Accrington can never be questioned.

“He supported us with our decision with the captaincy and I still think he’s got a lot of football left in him.

“And history tells us that when Paul Mullin scores he normally scores in bundles, so hopefully that will come for us in the next couple of games.”