City boss Gary Jardine scoops another Ladbrokes League 2 award
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Gary Jardine has shared his delight after winning back-to-back Ladbrokes League 2 Manager of the Month awards.
The Edinburgh City boss led his side to another unbeaten month in the division, following up an award-winning November with three wins and a draw in December.
The eight-game unbeaten run put together by Jardine’s League 2 new boys helped them move away from the bottom spot.
And they must be allowing themselves to think about achieving more than just safety as they sit sixth in the table, four points off the play-off places.
After picking up the award, a delighted Jardine exclusively told Ladbrokes News: “Last month, off the back of the poor few months previous, it was a bit of a relief and a bit more about the players.
“This month is fantastic and, again, it’s about the players and the hard work they’ve done to turn the season around.
“November got us back amongst the mix, but to take it one step further and get us off the bottom and higher up the league, albeit we’re only two points off the bottom, says a lot about the players and the job they’ve done.”
Jardine was able to add the experience and quality of English lower league journeyman Marc Laird earlier in the season and has followed that up with the surprise addition of former Middlesbrough, Aberdeen and Watford midfielder Josh Walker at the start of this month.
And he believes City is a big draw for these type of players despite being part-time and in the bottom tier of Scottish football.
Jardine added: “I’ve no doubt that Championship teams at the very least would want players like Josh and Mark.
“But the selling point for them is the city itself.
“Both have moved here and, at their age, are ready to put down their roots.
“Josh has done a lot of travelling in his career and now he’s getting a chance to spend time with his family.
“Mark is very similar, he’s been on the road for 15 years down south. Now he can spend time with his family in Edinburgh.
“It’s became much more like other countries where part-time football isn’t that much different to full-time.
“The players take it as seriously, it means as much to them, but means they can put their sporting life together with their family life.
“That’s what has been the selling point for both Mark and Josh.”
Jardine and City will be hoping to continue their strong recent Ladbrokes League 2 form with a win over Cowdenbeath this weekend.
The visitors are 21/10 to take all three points with The Blue Brazil 23/20 to secure a much-needed victory while the draw is a 5/2 shot.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
