Knill shares his top boss award

9:00am Friday 3rd October 2008

TOP-of-the-table Bury head into a difficult away trip to newly promoted Aldershot boosted by the news that Alan Knill has been named Manager of the Month for September.

The unbeaten Shakers picked up eight points from four games during the month to storm to the summit of League Two and serve notice of their potential.

Knill becomes the first Bury manager to pick up the award since Stan Ternent in April 1996, and he modestly heaped the praise on his players.

“Even though I get the award, it’s the team’s award really,” said Knill. “I try to give them some direction and they go out and do it so they should take all the credit.

“But it’s not just the team, it’s the football club in general. Everybody is working hard to move us forward.

“We’ve got a good side but a small squad. My remit when I came here wasn’t promotion, but to make things better and we are doing OK at the moment.”

Aldershot are the latest team trying to become the first side to beat the Shakers in League Two this season, and Knill is anticipating a tough trip.

“It’s a very tough game on Saturday because Aldershot have done well since they came up,” he said. “Generally, teams that come up from the Conference do well because they still have momentum from promotion. Aldershot are especially good at home. We are fortunate that our assistant manager Chris Wilder was in the Conference last year and knows a fair bit about them.

“We have to be wary because they have had a good start. In all the games they have played they have performed very well and beaten some good teams.

“As I always say, I hope it will be a difficult game for them.”

Knill added: “We have to be on our game every time we take to the field now. It’s much better being at the top, the mood is much lighter but every now and again we have to reinforce why we are where we are and what we have to do to stay there.

“It’s a great opportunity for some of the younger ones. When you are top of the league, more people come to watch you and you attract more interest so it’s an opportunity for them to sell themselves.

“It’s better to be in a winning team because more people take notice.”

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