Elgin City manager Jim Weir has paid tribute to his predecessor Barry Wilson for assembling the bulk of his squad after winning the League 2 manager of the month award for January.
Weir took the accolade after an unbeaten month during which City won two of three games to move off the bottom of the league.
The Black and Whites began with a 3-2 away victory against Annan Athletic, prior to a 1-1 draw against Queen’s Park at Hampden and finished with a 2-0 win at Berwick Rangers to move off the foot of the table for the first time after being four points adrift in November.
Weir has added four loan signings, with defender Ally Gilchrist and midfielder Craig Thomson arriving from St Johnstone and goalkeeper Ross Laidlaw joining from Raith Rovers prior to the arrival of Dundee midfielder Jamie Reid.
He reckons, however, his success has been due to keeping faith with the players left behind by former Wick Academy manager Wilson.
Weir said: “I’m delighted to receive the award so early into the role at Elgin. I’m so thrilled for the players as well for the run they’ve gone on, and in particular the effort they’ve put in.
“The easiest thing to do is to criticise the previous manager, but there is no way I could do that.
“There were already good players here and sometimes it’s just about adding in the right areas and finding a new direction.
“But the players already here were talented and hard working players, and I was delighted with what I inherited.
“We’ve added in a couple of key areas, but the nucleus of the team was what had been left at our disposal. It’s fantastic the way it’s come together, and it’s a start I could only have dreamed of.
“I give it everything I’ve got. At the interview stage I made it clear to the chairman how committed I’d be to training, and that travelling from Perth would not an issue.
“There’s no point saying one thing and doing another, I have to give it everything and I’ve been getting it back.”
Elgin have endured recent difficulties having gone more than two months without a home match due to drainage problems at Borough Briggs.
City finally returned to home action with a 2-0 win against Albion Rovers on Saturday, and Weir has urged the crowds to continue backing his team, with 10 home fixtures still remaining before the end of the season.
Weir added: “I see the potential with the crowds – on Saturday we had 625 supporters who were desperate to see a home game.”