Arbroath boss is Ladbrokes League 2 Manager of the Month & Season

Arbroath Manager Dick Campbell has been named the Ladbrokes League 2 Manager of the Month for April, as well as winning the fourth tier’s Manager of the Season award.

Those awards join a league title triumph for the 63-year-old this term, with the Red Lichties beating Forfar Athletic to top spot on the final day, following a thrilling title tussle.

Arbroath manager Dick Campbell has paid tribute to his players and staff after being named as the Ladbrokes League Two Manager of the Month for April and League Two Manager of the Season.

Campbell claimed the awards after his players sealed the title on the final day after leapfrogging Forfar in the penultimate round of fixtures.

The veteran coach will take most of the headlines, but Campbell was keen to turn the spotlight on his colleagues and squad.

Speaking exclusively to Ladbrokes News, he said: “It’s been a fascinating year and, of course, I’m absolutely delighted with any award I receive. Remember, we only arrived at the club last March!

“It doesn’t matter what else happens because winning the championship is what we’re all after.

“For me, I think it’s as good an effort by one of my teams from all the years I’ve been in the game.

“You win the championship because you accrue more points than anybody else and Forfar helped us a wee bit by dropping lots of points, but the last 15 games we only lost twice. That’s a magnificent effort and I’m very happy.

“I’m just so happy for everybody connected with the club. My staff have got a major part to play – we’ve got the oldest management team in the world!

“But seriously, they’ve been fantastic all season. It doesn’t matter what level you’re at, to win a championship is a great thing and the medals are well earned.

“I never went shouting my mouth about it or anything else, and I kept my powder dry all year.

“On February 6 we lost to Forfar and ended up 13 points behind them – I told my team ‘play like that and you’ll win the league’ and the rest is history.

“The two games before the final match we’d won by the odd goal and we were comfortable – we beat Elgin and we beat Cowdenbeath – and all I asked on the final day was for my players to play exactly the same and we got that.

“When’s the best time to go top of the league? It’s got to be the last game of the season! Forfar’s been top of the table since day one.”

The campaign may have only just finished, but Campbell already has one eye on adding to his squad for a stint in League One from August.

He added: “I’m already planning for next season right now, today! My beliefs are very simple; I’ve had four championships and four promotions and anybody we sign in the summer has got to be better than what we’ve got. No question. That’s a natural progression. Everybody’s got a part to play.

“To be honest, I don’t think Forfar and Arbroath would’ve been relegated in that league above us this year, I really don’t think so.

“Here at Arbroath, we’ve got great staff and a great group of players who are all at a good age – they’re all 23 or 24. We’ve got real pace and a great age profile. Having said that, I have my eye on three or four players to come in, and the good thing is that we have a track record and I think people want to come and play for us. That’s important.”

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