Exeter City manager Paul Tisdale has been named the Sky Bet League Two Manager of the Month for August. Tisdale deservedly won the award ahead of our own manager David Artell, Darren Sarll of Stevenage and michael Flynn of Newport.
Play-off final heartache in May was followed by young starlet Ollie Watkins leaving in pre-season. What could have been a feeling of gloom has been transformed into optimism by Tisdale. With Ten points from their four opening games took Exeter top.
Tisdale said: “11th time lucky! The team and I had thought we may have a chance of winning this time but considered maybe it would never actually happen. Nonetheless we are grateful to have been chosen for this award and receive it knowing that the players who have performed in August have been ably supported by a committed larger squad and support staff."
George Burley chairs the Sky Bet Manager of the Month judging panel.
He said: “Exeter City remained unbeaten for the first month of the season, winning three of their four games. Paul is the longest serving manager in the EFL and Exeter will be hoping to persuade him to sign a new contract as there are sure to be lots of clubs looking at his situation. They had a poor start last season but after this excellent month they will be hoping to keep their performances going.”
Sky Sports’ EFL pundit Don Goodman said: “What a difference a year makes in football and for Paul Tisdale and his Exeter City side. The Grecians stood by their manager after a wretched start to last season, despite widespread calls for him to leave the role he inherited way back in June 2006. And that decision looks fully vindicated after an impressive August which ended with Tisdale’s troops sitting pretty at the summit of Sky Bet League Two taking ten points from their opening four fixtures.
Sky Bet Football Trading Manager Paul Mikey Mumford said: “After Wembley heartbreak in May and the sale of star forward Ollie Watkins, the St James Park club were rated a 16/1 shot for divisional honours heading into the new campaign but have more than halved in price to 6/1 after their impressive start and are now 5/4 from 3/1 for promotion into League One. Tisdale looks like being rewarded for his fine efforts with a new contract and he will have aspirations of going up automatically after falling at the final flight last time around.”
The Sky Bet Manager of the Month judging panel comprises former Ipswich Town manager George Burley, Sky Sports’ EFL expert Don Goodman; EFL Marketing Director Drew Barrand, League Managers’ Association Director Olaf Dixon and Sky Bet Football Trading Manager Mikey Mumford.