SWINDON Town head coach Ben Garner has been nominated for the League Two manager of the month award for August.

Garner is up against Forest Green Rovers boss, Rob Edwards, Harrogate Town chief, Simon Weaver, and Hartlepool United manager, Dave Challinor.

Only Edwards' Forest Green took more points in August with 12, while Weaver and Challinor joined the Town boss in vastly surpassing their respective fan base's expectations courtesy of an early-season trip into the promotion spots.

Harrogate went unbeaten across their first four games, and Hartlepool won three of their four after winning the National League play-off final on June 20.

Meanwhile, Garner oversaw a sparkling start to the new season just weeks after Town had just five registered players inside the County Ground, with the club accumulating 10 points from the first five league matches once a fuller and capable squad had been assembled.

August began with a thrilling comeback victory over Scunthorpe United before the club was given a slight reality check following a League Cup first-round exit to Cambridge United and a home defeat to Carlisle United in League Two.

Nevertheless, the football remained attractive and effective, and Swindon went on to record three clean sheets in a row thereafter while drawing with Tranmere Rovers and beating Salford City and Mansfield Town by a goal to nil.

In a statement from Swindon Town, the club was full of praise for the amount of work that has been done to help the team reach this position.

It said: "Garner's nomination is testament to the sheer amount of hard work that has been put in by everyone at the football club over the last number of weeks, from the ownership to the back office staff, to Ben Chorley, to the coaching staff, to the medical team, to the performance analyst team, the kit men, and so many more.

"Everyone at Town has given absolutely everything, and the manager of the month nomination is worthy recognition for what has been an incredible team effort.

"It has been a real concerted effort by every single person at the football club to get the team to where it is currently, and this is only the beginning of the journey."

The winning boss will be announced by the EFL on Friday, September 10. The judging panel is made up of former Barnsley and Town manager Danny Wilson, Sky Sports' EFL expert Don Goodman, EFL communications director Mark Rowan, and Sky Bet EFL Trader Ivor Davies.