Gillingham manager Mark Bonner and goalkeeper Glenn Morris have both been nominated for a monthly award.
Bonner picked up the EFL’s August award in League 2 and has once again been named among the monthly contenders, this time for the September award, while his goalkeeper’s in the running for the player award.
Morris, 40, came into the team at the end of August, following an injury to Jake Turner, and has settled straight back in. He kept three clean sheets in September, conceding only once in four league games.
The Gills have started October with back-to-back defeats but they picked up nine points from a possible 12 last month, to sit top of the table.
Bonner’s men bounced back from a narrow defeat at Doncaster with a 3-0 home victory against Tranmere Rovers and a 1-0 win at free-scoring Notts County, who were top of the table at the time.
They followed that up by beating Barrow 2-0, the team who had a week earlier replaced Notts at the top of League 2.
The nomination announcement said that “establishing momentum is one thing, maintaining it against your promotion rivals is even harder.
“Bonner’s side had successive fixtures against the division leaders, Notts County and Barrow, winning both to go top themselves with nine points from four games.”
Also nominated are Fleetwood boss Charlie Adam, Port Vale’s Darren Moore and Walsall’s Mat Sadler.
Morris is up against Bromley striker Michael Cheek, Kane Hemmings at Crewe and Barrow full-back Ben Jackson for the award.
They said: “When you are facing the league leaders twice in successive weeks, an experienced keeper helps.
“Morris, who turns 41 in December, fits that description. He made fine saves against Notts County and Barrow, two of his three clean sheets in four games.”
The winners will be announced on Friday morning.
The judging panel for the Sky Bet player-of-the-month comprises Sky Sports’ EFL expert Don Goodman, EFL chief executive Trevor Birch and Sky Bet EFL trader Ivor Davies.
Former Barnsley manager Danny Wilson helps judge the managers’ award.
In addition, winger Jayden Clarke has been nominated for the PFA League 2 fans’ player-of-the-month award.
Clarke scored three goals in the month, netting twice late on against Tranmere and the opener in the 2-0 win over Stephen Clemence’s Barrow.
Former Gills player Steve Bruce is among the contenders for the League 1 manager award as he “used his experience and know-how to superb effect, winning a perfect first four games, simplifying tactics and allowing his new players to express themselves.”
