Rotherham United manager Paul Warne has been named the Sky Bet League One Manager of the Month for December.
Warne’s men were one of the busiest teams in League One and hauled themselves back into the promotion picture as a result. Away wins at Blackpool, Bury and Walsall underpinned their total of 13 points from six games.
Warne said: "I’m honoured to pick up the award. I think it reflects what the team have achieved this month. The staff and the group we’ve got had a really good December, they really went to win every game we’ve played in and it’s set us up nicely for the New Year so we’re pretty pleased.
“We did a lot of work with them pre-season, had a good start to the season, had a little bit of a wobble and we’ve come back. They’ve really attacked the Christmas period with gusto and hopefully that will run into the New Year.”
George Burley chairs the Sky Bet Manager of the Month judging panel. He said: “Rotherham had a very successful month which has hauled them into Play-Off contention. Paul must have been proud of their away form during a busy Christmas schedule.”
Sky Sports’ EFL pundit Don Goodman said: “When Paul Warne took the Rotherham job on an interim basis last season, they were cast adrift from the rest of the Championship with a massive rebuilding job to do.
“Initially not keen to take the job full time, he has grown into the role over the last 12 months and this award is recognition of a team transformed and moving in the right direction once more.”
Sky Bet EFL trader Mikey Mumford said: “Warne masterminded an unbeaten December which included three away victories but perhaps most pleasing for the Millers boss was the fact they were able to take all those points without the services of loan striker and top scorer Kieffer Moore.
“He served a three-match ban in the month so Warne will have been delighted with the impact David Ball made as his replacement. Slender wins by the odd goal at home to MK Dons and at Blackpool suggests Rotherham are finding ways to win the tighter games after finding the net with regularity early in the season.
“Warne, the club’s former fitness coach, will no doubt have his troops primed for the later months of the season, as they look for an instant return to the Championship.”
The Sky Bet Manager of the Month judging panel comprises former Ipswich Town manager George Burley, Sky Sports’ EFL League expert Don Goodman; EFL Marketing Director Drew Barrand, League Managers’ Association Director Olaf Dixon and Sky Bet EFL trader Mikey Mumford.