Award-winning Shanley praises players

2:20pm Sunday 11th January 2009

BRADFORD Town manager Paul Shanley has paid tribute to his players and the club’s chairman after winning his first manager of the month award.

Shanley was named Toolstation League Division One manager of the month for December after his team’s excellent form at the year’s end, which saw them win against Clevedon United, Keynsham Town and Minehead and draw against Almondsbury.

They scored 18 goals in those four league games and conceded only three, and were top of the table on Christmas Day.

The accolade is Shanley’s first ever manager of the month award, and he paid tribute to those around him in the wake of receiving it.

He said: “It’s nice for myself but it’s really for the players. They have been tremendous since I took over and it’s good for the club.

“The chairman has been tremendous. He does a lot of hard work off the field and I’ve got the easier job of picking the team from a very young but talented squad.

“They are going out and listening to what we’re telling them. They have got to perform and at the moment they are doing that.”