BELL'S Player of the Month: Mikko Paatelainen, Cowdenbeath F.C.
BELL'S Young Player of the Month: Bryan Deasley, Dundee F.C.
BELL'S Manger of the Month, First Division: Ian McCall, Queen of the South F.C.
BELL'S Manager of the Month, Second Division: Rowan Alexander, Gretna F.C.
BELL'S Manager of the Month, Third Division: Mixu Paatelainen, Cowdenbeath F.C.
Brothers Mixu and Mikko Paatelainen have both been awarded trophies in BELL'S February monthly awards for their performances this season with Cowdenbeath FC.
Mixu Paatelainen has taken home the trophy for Manager of the Month (Third Division), while Mikko was awarded BELL'S Player of the Month.
This is Mixu's second award, having won his first in October 2005. Cowdenbeath remained undefeated for four games in February, including an impressive 6-0 victory over Queen's Park. Mixu, 39, came to Scotland in 1987 and joined Dundee United, before moving on to play with Aberdeen and Hibs. Cowdenbeath FC is his first managerial position.
Mikko, 25, has scored seven league goals for Cowdenbeath FC this season, including a hat-trick in the 6-0 game at Queen's Park. With his first BELL'S trophy, Mikko is leaving Scotland on a high as he is returning to his native Finland to rejoin his old club.
Iain MacDonald, BELL'S Sponsorship manager, comments, "The Paatelainen brothers have made a great contribution to the fortunes of Cowdenbeath. Our judges congratulate both Mixu and Mikko on their awards and wish Markus a speedy recovery."
Queen of the South manager Ian McCall finally makes it a hat trick of BELL'S awards with his Manager of the Month (First Division) award for February.
It's Ian's first trophy with Queen of the South – he won the award in both August 2002 and January 2003 as manager of Falkirk. Since taking over at Queen of the South, McCall has revitalised the club's chances and pulled the team up from bottom of the Division. He has been rewarded with the Manager of the Month trophy this month.
McCall led Queen of the South through a successful February, with the team remaining undefeated and enjoying a 3-2 win over Dundee.
Iain MacDonald, BELL'S Sponsorship Manager, comments, "Ian's latest BELL'S award has been a long time coming; but Queen of the South have put in a strong performance throughout February under his leadership and the judges felt his accomplishments deserved recognition."
Rowan Alexander has won the Manager of the Month (Second Division) trophy for the fourth time this season. He has led Gretna FC through a spectacularly successful season, culminating in the club reaching the semi-final of the Scottish Cup, for the first time in the club's history.
Rowan has previously won the award in September and October 2005, and February 2006. He can now add a fourth trophy to his burgeoning collection for leading the club to the top of their division, with three straight wins in February.
Gretna FC is currently the top scoring SFL club, and the Scottish Cup's top scorers, with 18 goals this season.
Iain MacDonald, BELL'S Sponsorship Manager, comments, "Rowan has taken Gretna from strength to strength and his team's performance throughout the season has been consistently high. The judges felt he was the natural choice to receive February's award."
Bryan Deasley has been awarded the Young Player of the Month trophy in the BELL'S February awards, following his Dundee FC team-mates to make it three in a row for the club (Craig O'Reilly and Scott Murray won the Young Player awards in December and January respectively).
After graduating from Dundee's under-16 youth team, Dundee-born Deasley joined the club and has been propelled into the first team, scoring his first goal for the club recently. Bryan has been dubbed one to watch as he goes from strength to strength during his season with Dundee FC.
Iain MacDonald, BELL'S Sponsorship manager, comments, "Bryan did tremendously well during February. He is another of Dundee FC's bright hopes for the future and the judges felt he deserved this, his first BELL'S award."
