JOHN Coleman insists that everyone is behind Billy Kee in his battle to overcome depression, anxiety and bulimia.

The club released a statement on Tuesday where Kee thanked everyone for their support in his fight.

Coleman highlighted how someone like Kee, who has done so much for the club, will always be in the minds of the supporters.

"It's been an ongoing thing and we've been kept up to date with what’s been going on," said Coleman.

"The fact is that we have to distance ourselves from football and everyday life really and forget Billy as a footballer and think more of him as a human being.

"Ultimately that’s the most important thing so we have to get that right before we entertain any thought about football.

"If and when we can get Billy right, then we’ll have conversations because we want to try and get him right as a person.

"He’s got a family and he has to get that right first before anything else is considered. That’s the situation that we’re in."

Coleman highlighted how Kee's larger than life character means he will always be thought of amongst the people connected to the club.

"People who have had an impact like what Billy has had at this club, in 10 or 15-years’ time, people will still be talking about him, so I don’t think he’ll ever be forgotten," added Coleman.

"He is a larger than life character as well. I think the fans probably relate to him because they see him as one of them, just with a lot more ability.

"You do have big characters that fans remember and still talk about, whether they’re hear now or it’s in the future and long may that continue.

"That’s why we do the hard graft to get remembered like that."

The Reds boss thinks players who stay at clubs for pre-longed periods of time are few and far between.

Coleman mentioned his quartet of Billy Kee, Mark Hughes, Seamus Conneely and Sean McConville as an example for players who are now a part of the history at Accrington Stanley.

"Characters cement themselves in football and clubs, that impact is dwindling now – it’s very short term.

"Players even in the top clubs, they aren’t at clubs longer than two or three years.

"Once they have a couple of good seasons then they’re looking to move on.

"Even at the lower levels, you don’t really see players staying at the same club a long time, it’s just the way football has gone now.

"We’ve got probably four in Billy Kee, Mark Hughes, Seamus Conneely and Sean McConville who have been here a while and seen a lot of ups and downs.

"You won’t get too many clubs who have got that. The problem you have is when you have to replace them players, they’re a very big miss.

"That’s the problem we face in the future."