Airdrieonians manager Mark Wilson has thanked Dundee boss Paul Hartley for giving him a coaching chance.
The former Celtic and Dundee United defender has been named the Ladbrokes League One Manager of the Month for November after his side managed three wins from three matches to keep them in touch with leaders Livingston.
Wilson, who has won the award despite being just five weeks into his first ever senior coaching job, acknowledged the work done on the pitch by his players, as well as his staff behind the scenes.
But he also singled out Dundee manager Hartley.
Speaking to Ladbrokes News, Wilson said: “Paul Hartley gave me the chance to coach at Alloa when I was still playing at Dundee United and I appreciate that hugely.
“It gave me the chance to go in and take charge of 20 to 30 boys on my own and get my own ideas across and he was very free in how he let me do things. He let me take charge of the reserve team and I was really pleased with that.
“It gave me the kind of platform and appetite to realise I wanted to actually go into management.
“I’m hugely grateful to him for letting me do that, I’ve got a good relationship with him, and I’m forever grateful and obviously that’s went a long way towards getting me the Airdrie job.”
The Diamonds boss also mentioned former Raith Rovers legend Gordon Dalziel, who has been brought in at Airdrie as director of football.
He said: “The thing is, when I went into the job, people must have thought Gordon and I were best pals because we’re on the radio together on Thursday night, but the fact was we only ever spent two hours per week together – we never socialised or anything.
“But Gordon’s obviously seen something in me and there’s a lot riding on his decision to bring me in, and I’m pleased he did. We have similar ideas.
“But he’s been somebody that I can rely on – it’s not easy going into a dressing room without much experience.
“We agree and disagree on things, but he’ll always say it’s my decision at the end of the day and I really like that. He’s somebody who’s been a manager for 12 years and it was a great opportunity for me to go into management with somebody I can rely on.
“We’re hugely ambitious. The club’s full-time and being full-time means there’s a pressure on us to make that play-off place now. I would love to say we’re aiming for the league title – and there’ll be ups and downs – but we’ll not be too far away come the end of the season.”
