Paul Hegarty’s role in transforming Montrose from a side set to exit senior football to one chasing a play-off berth has been recognised with the Links Park boss awarded the League Two Manager of the Month for October.
The 61-year-old led Montrose to second in the table at the end of last month after wins over Queen’s Park and Berwick Rangers and reckons that sheer hard work is behind the rise from bottom spot last season.
Hegarty said: “This is a league where there is very little between the sides and you simply have to get your sleeves rolled up and get on with things in every game.
“It is nice to be recognised for last month. However, I am sure that the Ladbrokes award represents a bigger turnaround at Montrose.
“Things were not great here last season but in the majority of cases that is how out-of-work football managers get a job.
“When my assistant John Holt and I came in last March we knew that it would be difficult to get the points to take Montrose off bottom spot.
“We knew that we were heading for the play-offs so we looked to get some confidence in the camp by getting a few wins.
“That set us up nicely for the play-offs against Brora where thankfully we won through.”
Changes were made to the playing pool over the summer, with Hegarty saying: “This season we brought in players we felt could do a good job on and off the pitch.
“We wanted a really strong team spirit and six wins so far shows that we achieved a bit of success.
“The challenge is to now keep that going and while November has not started too well we have a platform to build on. The players have been honest and hard-working both in training and games.
“They know that they let themselves down against Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale in the Scottish Cup. They will learn from it as they are a good bunch to work with.”
The former Forfar, Aberdeen, Dundee United and Livingston manager got a stark reminder of the cruel nature of management when his side defeated Berwick at Links Park and the Borderers player-manager Colin Cameron was dismissed at the ground afterwards.
Hegarty said: “The strange thing is that if Berwick had beaten us they would have gone second and we would have been sixth, so football can be a strange business.
“We look to be having a much better season, though nothing has been decided yet and we will see what happens come April.”
The club have extended their sponsorship deal with local oil and gas support company Exquip International Ltd, to provide travel wear for the first team squad for the season.
Chairman Derek Sim said: “This is great news for the club and I would like to thank Exquip for its continued support.”