The Scottish Professional Football League yesterday announced named managers of the month for the lower three division for the first time since its inception in the summer.

Alex Neil, the Hamilton Academical player-manager, Stenhousemuir's Martyn Corrigan and John Coughlin of East Stirlingshire were awarded Championship, League 1 and League 2 manager of the month for August, respectively.

Neil has perhaps been the most impressive of the trio, since his Hamilton side won all six of their matches to lead the Championship, while also knocking Kilmarnock out of the Scottish League Cup. "Part of the reason we have done so well is that the players are good listeners who want to improve," he said. "To do so well was not a total surprise but there is a lot of work still to be done."