The Football League have announced their nominees for October’s Sky Bet Championship Manager of the Month award via their official website, with Phil Parkinson, Dean Smith, Ian Holloway and Gary Rowett put forward for the prized gong.

Bolton manager Parkinson led the Trotters to an unbeaten month of October in a run which took the Lancashire side out of the bottom three, with the former Premier League side scoring in each of their four games.

Three wins out of four for the Bees, which included comfortable wins at Preston North End and Birmingham, earns boss Dean Smith a well-deserved nomination, and after a poor start to the season, the Bees now lie just four points away from the play off spots.

QPR boss Ian Holloway will be delighted with the performances of his side during October, with the west Londoners going unbeaten throughout the month, picking up two wins and two battling away draws during the period.

Derby County enjoyed the most efficient run of any Championship side in October, with manager Gary Rowett leading the Rams to four wins from four, including impressive victories over Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds United.

The Verdict

Each manager nominated for the October gong has enjoyed a wonderful, unbeaten month and will be delighted with the efforts of their side, but surely the award has to go to Gary Rowett for winning every single one of his October outings.

Wins over Nottingham Forest, Norwich City, Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds United marks an incredible return from what was an extremely tough set of fixtures, and Rowett certainly deserves the crown for his excellent leadership during the spell.

Football League fans, who do you think deserves the October award? Have your say below...