BILLY Kee is “a great ambassador for the club” - that is the view of Accrington Stanley manager John Coleman.

Kee was crowned League Two player of the year at the North West Football Awards this week - the second time he has scooped that prize in three years.

And Coleman feels the award is not just testament to the striker’s efforts on the pitch, in firing the Reds to the League Two title with his 25 league goals last season, but also the work that he does off the pitch, not least his openness about his battle with depression.

“Billy’s a great lad,” said the Stanley boss.

“He likes life and enjoys what he does. People can talk about his depression and that will be a constant battle with him. But the way he comes across, he’s very, very generous with his money and his time with other people and the fans, and I think he’s a great ambassador for the club.

“And then you take him onto the pitch and he does really really well for us. The way he plays he understands the role that we want of him and he never complains.

“He gets used like a battering ram most weeks - he gets battered from pillar to post and doesn’t complain.

“He’s a throwback to the old centre forwards in my opinion.”

This is Kee’s second spell with Stanley, having previously been on loan at the club from Leicester City at the start of his career.

“We tried to sign him as soon as we had him on loan and he went to different clubs. I think he’s only ever really felt at home here though, to be fair,” said Coleman.

“I think we understand him and what makes him tick and he understands what we want off him. It’s got to be a two-way process and if you get that right you’ve got a good player.

“I think the players respond to the way we play and they realise how pivotal he is to how we play.

“I think he does bring the best out of certain players in our team, but some our players bring the best out of him as well.”

And Coleman says, despite Kee’s complex character, he has not had to alter his management techniques specifically for him.

“I haven’t had to adapt my style because I do that with most people. I try to treat players like individuals,” the Stanley boss continued.

“Billy’s not the quickest player in the world, he’s not going to be the fittest player in the world, but he’ll keep going right to the end.

“Players can understand if he’s doing a job on the pitch they’ll put up with him not training as hard or as often as them. But it's not just Billy, we treat all the players to their specific needs, and I think players respond when they see it’s all down to them trying to get a win on a Saturday and it’s all geared towards us trying to be successful.

“We do try to treat them right. We don’t make it like a holiday camp, but we do like to enjoy what we do.

“I really love coming into training. They’re great people to work around and be about and they lift your day. There’s not many people who go to work every day enjoying what they’re going to do.”