Caldwell: Award means nothing if we don't go up

Wigan Athletic Manager Gary Caldwell with his SkyBet League One Manager of Month Award for February

Gary Caldwell admits his manager of the month award - the first of his fledgling career - will only mean something if Wigan Athletic go on to achieve promotion at the end of the season.

The Latics boss picked up the League One gong after steering the side through an unbeaten February, thanks to wins against Sheffield United, Walsall and Bury, as well as a draw against Oldham.

It extends Wigan’s overall unbeaten run to an impressive 14 matches, which has seen Caldwell’s men climb to second place in the table with only 11 matches to go.

But Caldwell says the real prize is the one that will be decided on May 8.

“It is great to get an award, but effectively it means nothing unless you back it up,” Caldwell told the Wigan Today.

“I had awards as a player but, looking back, none of them matter against the team awards that I won.

“While it is nice to receive awards like this - and I’m not saying it’s not - the main award is still up for grabs at the end of the season.

“That’s why we’re in the job. It’s not about winning the odd manager of the month. It’s about winning trophies for the team and the club.

“I’ll give it to the kids. They’ll be delighted with it. They’ll think it’s amazing.”

Caldwell was also quick to deflect any praise on to his colleagues, both on and off the pitch.

“The award is reflective of my staff, and the work they’re all putting in on a daily basis to help us to achieve results on a Saturday,” he acknowledged.

“And mostly it’s down to the players, who have performed incredibly well against tough opposition in big games.

“Playing against teams in and around us in the league, we had to win and the players went out and did that.”