BOLTON boss Colin Todd has been rewarded for his side's table-topping start to the season by being named Nationwide League division one manager of the month.

The Burnden Park chief has shrugged off the disappointment of last term's relegation from the Premiership in brilliant fashion, guiding Wanderers to top spot with a 13-point haul from their six September league games, including four wins and a draw.

Bolton, beaten only once in their opening 10 first division matches and two points clear of Norwich at the top, also secured a home Coca-Cola Cup third round date with Ruud Gullit's Chelsea.

Todd, who missed out narrowly to Stoke's Lou Macari for the August Award, said: "It's a credit to my players and to my staff for all the hard work that they've put in. Let's hope it continues.

"It's an honour for the football club but I put it down as a team award rather than just for myself. It's all part of the progress we are making.

"The disappointments were horrendous last season but we've put that right behind us now.

"I keep reminding people that we've got to sustain it but we are capable of sustaining it."

Wrexham's stunning climb up the table ensured the second division award went to Brian Flynn, whose side took 14 points from seven outings to move from fourth bottom to fourth.

And four wins and a draw from Carlisle's five September league games secured the third division accolade for Mervyn Day, the former West Ham goalkeeper looking to guide the Brunton Park club back to the second division at the first attempt.

Each winner will receive a solid silver salver before a forthcoming home match and will be asked to nominate a local school for a £150 donation towards sports equipment.

Free-scoring first division highflyers Crystal Palace have been named September winners of the Yokohama Best Performance on the Road award - given to the team that provides the most eye-catching away display of the month in all competitions.

Palace's 6-1 romp at Reading - the first of two successive six-goal hauls for Dave Bassett's men in the first division - was enough to convince a panel comprising commentator Brian Moore, former top referee Jack Taylor and representatives from Yokohama and the Football League that the Selhurst Park men deserved the accolade.

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