Forfar manager Gary Bollan has praised the work of his players after collecting the Ladbrokes League Two Manager of the Month award for September – his second of the season.
The Station Park club took three wins from three games in the league in September, leaving them six points clear at the top of the table with a game in hand.
But whilst Bollan is delighted at recognition for his work, he insists that he would be nowhere without his committed squad.
Speaking to Ladbrokes News, he said: “It’s a team effort. It’s the boys who get the results on the Saturday. Most of it is down to them winning games, and putting in the hard work.
“We do a lot of work setting up things at training and putting in a lot of time behind the scenes, but the players are the guys who get the results and I’ve been absolutely delighted with them so far.
“It gives me confidence, but it’s the players who are getting you that by putting everything on the line and working hard. Coaches always have confidence in their own ability, but awards like this obviously help. The more wins you get, obviously the confidence rides high.
“But this is an award for the whole club, not just me, and shows everybody that we’re doing well.”
Though Forfar already look strong for promotion this season, Bollan is keen to remind supporters that there’s still a long way to go in the season.
Next up is an Angus derby with Arbroath at Gayfield.
He added: “We can’t look any further than the next match. Every manager says the same, but it’s always about the next game. If you take your eye off the ball, that’s when mistakes happen and that’s when you drop points.”
It was a double success for Forfar, with Thomas O’Brien picking up the Ladbrokes League Two Player of the Month award for September .
He thought it was all a wind-up from his team-mates.
O’Brien said: “I was a little bit sceptical after getting the phone call – I thought it may have been one of the boys winding me up.
“I’m surprised. It’s good to win, but I didn’t expect it at all.
“Usually it’s boys who score goals for fun who get the awards. I’ve been playing just in front of the back four this season.
“But I put it down to the team. We’ve been doing well and picking up results we need. Getting the award is down to the team.”
O’Brien recognises the big impact Bollan has had on the team – evidenced with his back-to-back awards to kick the season off.
But he admits it’s all about hard work and joked that the Forfar boss could double as an athletics coach with all the running he gives his squad.
O’Brien added: “The gaffer is great, he’s good to work with. He could be an athletics coach as well, but he’s about hard work.
“We put it in for training as much as we do in games. There’s no hiding with him.
“This season everyone is contributing. Last one was just one of those seasons – we’ve got it out of our system, brought some new boys in and it’s great winning games again.”
