Gillingham boss Martin Allen named npower League 2 manager of the month for January
Gillingham's Martin Allen with his League 2
January manager of the
month award Picture:
Andy Payton
Gillingham manager Martin Allen has been
awarded the League 2 manager-of-the-month award for January.
The Gills picked up 10 points from a possible
15 during a month which saw them enjoy wins at Bristol Rovers and
Southend.
Gillingham hit back from a home defeat to Port
Vale by drawing with York City and beating Northampton Town.
Also in the running were AFC Wimbledon boss
Neal Ardley and John Ward, whose side lost 2-0 at home to Allen’s
Gills.
Speaking about the club’s achievements during
the month, boss Martin Allen said: “10 points from 15 is a great
return. It’s great and it’s for all the people at the football club
who helped me, all the players, especially the staff.
“That’s obviously Championship winning form
but because of this grey cloud over everyone, because we didn’t
play well on the television against Wycombe, for 15 minutes at the
end for the game, people are saying ‘how the hell did you get
nominated for manager-of-the-month?
“We got 10 from 15 so we aren’t doing too
badly. Just imagine how grey those clouds are elsewhere at all
those other football clubs. The sun is shining and we are doing
well. Let’s get another 10 from the next 15 and then another 10 and
then its job done.
“It’s great for our club but we need to just
keep everyone on that nice even keel and keep ticking along. We
just got four points in Yorkshire, two clean sheets and we are
doing great.”
Allen has often spoke of the necessity of
keeping calm when things don’t go well. And his side displayed
their ability to bounce back from disappointment.
Since losing to Wycombe at home they took a
point off York City and beat Bradford, both away from
Priestfield.
Allen said: “It’s about how you cope with it
and how you deal with it. How do you deal with that last 20 minutes
against Wycombe Wanderers at home? Live on Sky to the nation? It
wasn’t great but all our players bounced back and we had loads of
supporters at Bradford. We put on a fantastic performance to win
1-0.
“It is typical human behaviour that people
would rather talk about the Wycombe game rather than saying what a
fantastic win it was at Bradford, going up there against a side who
had recently beaten Aston Villa over two legs, Arsenal and beaten
Wigan.
“We go up there get a clean sheet and win 1-0.
Let those people moan and have a go, of course we can’t ignore what
happened at the Wycombe game, but I would rather talk about the
positive things.”
And speaking to the press from the top floor
of the Medway Stand, he added: “As I look out of the window 90% of
the sky is grey cloud and horrible and doom and gloom. But I can
see the sunshine coming through and it’s much nicer to look at
that.
“Our players have been so special, they have been absolutely
fantastic, on and off the field, their behaviour and conduct and
professionalism in Yorkshire was different class. Let’s look at the
nice parts rather than the doom and gloom. All that does is send
you downhill.”
15/02/13
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