Mark Yates has been named Sky Bet League 2 manager of the month for December.
Cheltenham Town manager Mark Yates is the Sky Bet League 2 manager of the month for December.Mark was up against Gary Rowett (Burton Albion), Justin Edinburgh (Newport County) and Russ Wilcox (Scunthorpe United) but the panel of judges came to a swift conclusion.
A stuttering start to the season for the Robins has been slowly but surely reversed through the tireless efforts of the backroom staff and most impressive of their 10 points from five games were perhaps the three earned in a clinical 2-0 triumph away at Fleetwood Town.
The award was presented to Mark at the training ground yesterday and he is due on the phone with Sky Sports News later this morning. The Robins' chief was delighted to pick up the award but was keen to share the recognition with his backroom staff.
"I'd like to thank the panel for awarding myself, my backroom staff and the players," smiled Mark.
"This season has been hard work for us all but it's starting to pay off slowly as we climb the table. The award is fully deserved for the players. There's a lot of good managers in our division and I didn't even think about it until I was nominated to be honest because I thought the Mansfield game might have cost us but we've been on a good run and we're delighted to get the award. I think a lot of people at the club deserve it."
Former Charlton Athletic and West Ham manager Alan Curbishley chairs the Sky Bet Manager of the Month judging panel and believes Mark was a worthy winner.
“Mark Yates and Cheltenham recorded an impressive 10 points from five games in December," he said.
“Their form has moved them up the Sky Bet League 2 table and they are showing the sort of form we saw last season.”
In the Sky Bet Championship, Steve McClaren of Derby County was named Sky Bet Manager of the Month whilst the Sky Bet League 1 Manager of the Month Award went to Brentford manager Mark Warburton.
The Manager of the Month judging panel comprises Alan Curbishley; Sky Sports Football League expert Don Goodman; Football League Chief Operating Officer Andy Williamson; League Managers’ Association Director Olaf Dixon and Sky Bet Head of Football Paul Wiggins.