SHAKERS boss Andy Preece has been pipped at the post in the race to become Division Two's manager of the month. With three wins and two draws in a fantastic February, Preece was among the front runners for the prestigious award, especially considering the current financial situation at Gigg Lane.

However, Nationwide have plumped for Millwall's Mark McGhee instead, meaning Preece misses out.

"It was very, very close," stressed Nationwide's Chris Hull. "We were aware of the work Andy Preece has done at Bury and he was very much in our thoughts. We on the panel discussed him when we were making our choice.

"It's fantastic what Andy Preece has done at Bury considering the background there and what's going on at the club.

"To win three and draw two in a month is excellent but there were several other managers like Ronnie Moore at Rotherham, Alan Pardew at Reading and Joe Kinnear at Luton who had also done well.

"Andy Preece was a leading contender but we went for someone else, based on results over a long-term period."

The Bury boss wasn't too upset when the Bury Times broke the news to him, saying the most important issue was to keep the Shakers unbeaten run going.

"At the end of the day it doesn't matter," said Preece. "The most important thing is to keep on collecting points and remaining unbeaten. Then maybe next month we can pick up an award.

"But the main thing for me is to pick up results and keep moving away from the danger area and make sure we've got enough points to be safe."

Missing out on the award might also prove to be a bonus because, as other successful managers have found, it can be the kiss of death.

Since Bolton's Sam Allardyce scooped last month's award, for example, Wanderers have only won once in five league games.

Meanwhile, Preece is looking to bring in a defender or midfielder on loan in time for next week's Millwall clash as both Chris Billy and Chris Swailes are suspended.