Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Mick McCarthy continues to show the Midas touch in the Coca Cola Championship and was last night rewarded with his second Manager of the Month award of the season.
The Yorkshireman was recognised after Wolves’ rich vein of form which saw them win five and draw one in November.
McCarthy beat a shortlist including promotion-chasing rival Alex McLeish at Birmingham City, Preston North End’s Alan Irvine and Neil Warnock at Crystal Palace.
The Wolves manager also won the award in September and was shortlisted in August for his efforts in helping his side to the top of the table where they lead near neighbours Blues by six points after the two sides drew 1-1 at Molineux at the weekend.
McCarthy, however, insisted the plaudits should not be directed at him but instead insisted they be showered on his squad.
He said: “I always see this award as Team of the Month rather than Manager of the Month.
“Getting the award is testament to the team and what it has achieved, not to me.
“I may be the recipient of the award and, obviously it is great to have, but I am only accepting it on behalf of others.
“Every game in this league is tough but in November we had several games against in-form teams towards the top end of the table.
“I think maybe the fact we won a couple of those away from home – away to Cardiff and Sheffield United – perhaps tipped the balance in our favour.”
McCarthy added: “There were a lot of teams who had some good results but maybe that swung it our way.”
The former Ireland manager was last night among those being tipped as a possible successor for Roy Keane who walked out on the Black Cats of Sunderland yesterday after two years at the helm.
But he seems to have his focus very much on the task in hand at Molineux.
He said: “It is nice to get another accolade like this trophy but we haven’t actually achieved anything yet.
“There is still a long way to go in the Championship and everyone will be fighting tooth and nail right to the end.”
* Wolves’ FA Cup third round tie with Birmingham City has been fixed for Saturday January 3 at 3pm at St Andrew’s.
If the tie has to be replayed it will take place at Molineux on Tuesday January 13.
