Oxford United Boss Liam Manning has been nominated for the August Sky Bet League One Manager of the Month Award.
Liam's team won four of their five games to top the early table and that has led to him making the four-man shortlist for the award with the results to be announced on Friday morning.
The shortlist, with the Judges' comments is:
Liam Manning (Oxford United)
Manning has blown away any pre-season pessimism following last season’s struggles and not just with the style of play he preaches. Of their four wins from five games which sent Oxford top, two were at promotion favourites Derby and Barnsley.
Gary Caldwell (Exeter City)
With long-term fan favourites leaving St James Park, Caldwell’s summer was spent moulding a new team nucleus. He even made light of a difficult-looking fixture list, guiding his side to 10 points from five games, conceding just two goals.
Andy Crosby (Port Vale)
A manager nominated after his side lost 7-0? Yes, because so shuddering was that opening day defeat at Barnsley that the calmness with which Crosby oversaw a Vale turnaround of 10 points from four subsequent games was remarkable.
Shaun Maloney (Wigan Athletic)
To wipe out an eight-point deduction in the first four games of the season says everything about the team spirit Maloney has engendered at Wigan. His side’s 10-point haul from five games included a 4-0 statement win at local rivals Bolton.
The Sky Bet Manager of the Month judging panel comprises former Barnsley manager Danny Wilson, Sky Sports’ EFL expert Don Goodman, and Sky Bet EFL trader Ivor Davies.