If there was any justice in football, writes The Maltby Mail, the voting for Manager of the Year in the NCEL Premier Division would have closed already.

Sean Kay's remarkable achievements this season in taking perennial relegation strugglers Maltby Main to the heady heights of a promotion race is surely the coaching story of the season.

Not only are The Miners battling for a promotion spot they also topped the league during a heady spell in the Autumn.

Then, Kay warned his players not to get ahead of themselves while trying to maintain the tremendous spirit which had taken them to the top spot in the first place.

This pragmatism was evident when he took up the reins when Wilf Race stepped down at the end of last season.

Then, the club survived relegation by just one place, albeit with an eight point cushion.

But, Kay was not daunted by taking over a Maltby team which which was expected to face a battle to survive the drop.

"Our aim was to do better than just avoiding relegation," says Kay. "There were some new signings, and we brought in a few players from Sheffield."

Kay is being modest. His acumen in the market has been one of the most impressive things of his short reign.

This is even more remarkable when the parlous state of the club's finances are taken into consideration.

With The Maltby Mail as its main sponsor, via a deal which Kay himself helped broker, the club is the only one in the division that does not pay its players.

Few people outside the club realise that Kay has been responsible for bringing in a comparatively large sum of money into the club via attracting sponsors and through his own personal efforts.

Despite these problems, Kay?s inspirational qualities, coaching ablility and knowledge of a good player when he sees one has helped the club to one of its best seasons ever.

Nevertheless it has continued to be difficult to attract sponsors and, even more surprisingly, crowds.

"Of course we are disappointed with the crowds," said Kay, "although against some of the better supported sides we have had a decent turnout."

The truth is that as the final push approaches Kay needs all the support he can get.

Not only from his players but from the town too.

This is the best chance the Main have had in a long time, and it is time to make your way to Muglett Lane and support our side.

Promotion would bring with it massive challenges, but surely we are not going to turn that down!