Monday 14 April 2014 16:50, UK
Russ Wilcox has now passed a European milestone after setting a new record for games unbeaten at the start of a managerial reign.
The Scunthorpe boss extended his unbeaten run since replacing Brian Laws as manager of Scunthorpe on November 20 to 26 matches following Saturday's 2-2 draw against Bury. Former Chelsea and Tottenham boss Andre Villas Boas went 25 games unbeaten after becoming manager of Porto in 2010. Scunthorpe striker Paul Hayes said the club's recent success - they remain on course for automatic promotion from League Two - is all down to Wilcox. "He's been great," Hayes told the club's official website. "If one manager is going to do it, it is going to be Russ. "He is positive, he is respectful, and he has done his trade obviously being an assistant manager for years. "He gives you that confidence to go out there and enjoy yourself. Training is great, he lets the banter flow with the lads. "When things are hard he does go into you. All the credit we get as players is down to the manager." The Iron's goalless draw against Wycombe last month broke the previous Football League record of 23 matches set by Preston's William Sudell during the 1888-89 season. Wilcox is hoping to extend his current run to 27 games at Morecambe on Friday.
