Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson has been named Sky Bet Championship Manager of the Month for January.

The Foxes boss collects the award after a flawless start to 2014 for his side, who won all five of their Sky Bet Championship matches during the month to move into pole position in the race for automatic promotion.

City currently lead the division by 10 points from second-placed Queens Park Rangers, having set a new Club record of nine consecutive league victories – a run that started in mid-December.

Nigel told lcfc.com: “I’m really pleased to have won the award, but I recognise individual accolades such as this as a group achievement, as you can only be a success in a team sport through collective endeavour.

“The players and backroom staff deserve an awful lot of credit for the results we have achieved in the last few weeks, but it’s vital now that we focus on the months ahead and achieving our main objective this season, which is promotion.”

Dave Bassett, chair of the Sky Bet Manager of the Month judging panel, said: “January was fantastic month for Nigel Pearson, which ended with a Club-record [of consecutive wins].

“Leicester have maintained their momentum and they are now in a great position at the top of the Sky Bet Championship.”

Sky Bet Head of Football Paul Wiggins said: “A perfect month for Nigel Pearson's Foxes has seen them leap ahead in the Sky Bet Championship title race.

“The signing of Kevin Philips paid dividends immediately as he came on to make the difference at Leeds United in what was the toughest encounter they faced in the month.”

In Sky Bet League 1, Russell Slade of Leyton Orient was named Sky Bet Manager of the Month, while Fleetwood Town’s Graham Alexander collected the accolade in Sky Bet League 2.

The judging panel is chaired by former Football League manager Dave Bassett; Sky Sports Football League expert Don Goodman; Football League Chief Operating Officer Andy Williamson; League Managers’ Director Olaf Dixon and Sky Bet Head of Football Paul Wiggins.

Sky Bet are Title Sponsor of The Football League. The sponsorship includes a Revenue Share deal with all 72 member clubs.

The Revenue Share generates money, paid to every club, based on the revenue generated by their fans who sign up and bet with Sky Bet.

Through this ongoing arrangement, Sky Bet are able to add another income stream to every club in the Sky Bet Football League.

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