In the least surprising news since finding out the sun was hot, Michael Skubala has been nominated for League One Manager of the Month.
As predicted by us at the end of March, Tom Cleverley and Ritchie Wellens are also nominated, with Alex Revell taking the final place. It’s going to be a tough ask this month, as Plymouth’s record is very good, and Cleverley has led them to the cusp of the top six.
Michael may not dwell on the possibility, but there is a genuine chance that he could achieve a feat no manager has managed since the division rebranded as League One. A number of notable names, including Dennis Wise, Roberto Martínez, Paul Lambert and Kieran McKenna, have all secured back-to-back awards, but none have ever gone one step further to make it three in succession.
That alone highlights the scale of what is at stake, although competition this month is far from lacking. Cleverley has guided Plymouth Argyle to an identical return across March, winning four and drawing one, with notable results against promotion-chasing sides and a strong goal difference to match.
Ritchie Wellens has also engineered an impressive turnaround at Leyton Orient, collecting 13 points to steer his side away from trouble, despite a solitary defeat on their record. Both managers present credible alternatives, particularly given their narratives of progression and recovery.
Alex Revell doesn’t get as much credit as he deserves at Stevenage. They’re also in contention for a play-off place, and they won three of their five matches in March, but losses to Orient and Peterborough will make it difficult for him to lift the award.
Michael’s case remains compelling. City matched Plymouth’s points return, scored freely while conceding just three goals, and crucially recorded a standout victory away at the league leaders. I suspect external factors could influence the decision, with recognition perhaps leaning towards those lifting teams from adversity rather than sustaining excellence at the top.
Even so, the Imps’ consistency cannot be ignored, and with history within reach, attention now turns to whether this remarkable campaign can echo the achievements of Graham Taylor’s iconic 1975/76 season.