SCOTT Dignan admits a switch to the sidelines has not been easy despite leading Knutsford to the Cheshire League summit, writes Alex Bysouth.

He had to recruit more new players than he envisaged after replacing John Ferguson in charge at Manchester Road in the summer, but has been rewarded for a rebuilding job after guiding Reds to four successive wins during November.

It earned him a manager of the month award from league sponsors Hallmark Security.

“Management has been harder than I thought it would be but I’m enjoying it,” he said.

“I’ve rebuilt the side as only five players from the original squad stayed, but we’re still in the mix at the right end of the table.

“Being at the top, we’ve been able to be selective about who we wanted to take.”

Another bonus for Dignan is Knutsford appear to have put behind them a run of poor form on their own pitch.

Reds have won the past three league encounters at Manchester Road after losing four of their first seven there.

In contrast, their record on the road is perfect after seven successive victories.

“Hopefully we’ll keep up the form of late,” he added. 

“At the moment we can’t wait to go away; it’s been good. 

“At home, sides come to us knowing our pitch is lovely and it’s like a cup final for them. They raise their game.

“It hasn’t worked for us for whatever reason, and then there have been individual errors. 

“If we weren’t making those then we wouldn’t be playing at this level. 

“It’s frustrating, but we have got to accept it to a certain extent.”

Knutsford host Poynton this Saturday before visiting Whaley Bridge, Dignan’s former club, a week later.

He made his managerial debut against them in August, a game the visitors won.

“I started playing there when I was nine, but I still want to go there and win,” said Dignan.

“Some of the lads who play for them work for me, and it’s our Christmas night out on the 20th.

“I’ve told them it’s cancelled if Knutsford lose!”

He added: “There’s always room for improvement. The past couple of weeks we’ve ground out results – sometimes it’s about soaking up pressure and we have the players to do that.”

Knutsford, in first place, are two points better off than closest rivals Linotype.

But their pursuers, who host Pilkington this weekend, have two games in hand.