Albion Rovers manager Paul Martin praised the club’s on and off the park backroom staff for the work they do as he picked up September’s IRN-BRU Phenomenal Manager of the Month for the Third Division.
The Coatbridge side have climbed to the top of the table on the back of 3-1 September wins over Montrose and Elgin plus a 1-1 draw at Arbroath with October starting off in fine style as well with another three points picked up against East Stirling.
Martin reckons that the hard work carried out by a small band of unpaid volunteers at the club is finally being rewarded by a team on the park that match their efforts.
Martin explained, “Albion Rovers have fighting at the wrong end of the table for far too long and hopefully that is changing. I am delighted for the Directors and fans that put hours of effort into keeping the club going that we are in the top half of the table just now.”
On the park the dedication involved in washing strips, selling pies and tidying up the ground is now being replicated with Martin adding, “We have probably the lowest revenue stream in the SFL and could do with a few more locals watching us rather than hopping on a bus to see someone else. We operate on a lot of goodwill from a few people and it is good that these guys are seeing their team prosper at the moment.”
Martin reckons that he has put together a coaching staff that is helping to match the work carried out to keep Albion Rovers ticking over away from the pitch.
The Cliftonhill boss trusts his assistant manager Todd Lumsden, first team coach Danny Ferry, goalkeeping coach Darren Cross and physio John McMenemy so much that he left them to oversee training in the past week to allow him to take his family to Spain on holiday.
Martin said, “In every other business things carry on regardless without the manager for periods of time and that is what I am looking to build here. These guys are the glue that hold the playing side of things together and so far it is going well.”
“The Rovers are riding high at the moment but there are no medals given out in October, I want us still to be riding high come April.”
