Inverness manager Terry Butcher picks up a second award

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Manager of the month Terry Butcher thinks two awards in a week have capped a great month and year for Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

Butcher was given an honorary degree at Southampton Solent University on Monday before picking up his Clydesdale Bank Premier League award for October.

The 51-year-old former England captain's side sit fourth in the SPL.

"It has been a great year for the whole club and it has been a tremendous team effort from everyone," said Butcher.

"If you look at where we were a year ago - sixth or seventh in the First Division and things were looking gloomy then.

"But, in that year, everybody has worked so hard and the spirit of the club has come through."

I have received two awards, so it has been a fantastic week for me Inverness manager Terry Butcher

Former Scotland assistant manager Butcher took over at Inverness in January 2009.

He could not prevent the club sliding into the First Division but did steer them back to the SPL at the first time of asking.

And, in October, Caley Thistle beat Aberdeen and draw with St Johnstone at home, while they won at Kilmarnock and secured a 1-1 draw away to Rangers.

That point at Ibrox extended an unbeaten run away from home that has lasted 11 months.

Now they host Motherwell on Saturday and victory would take them above Butcher and assistant Maurice Malpas's former club.

"It is a battle between third and fourth place and I am delighted that Motherwell are the team ahead of us, although, after Saturday, I hope we are ahead of them," the new Doctor of Sport told BBC Scotland.

"I am delighted because it is my ex-club and we had some great times down there."

Butcher recalled difficult times when sweeping redundancies were made at Caledonian Stadium following relegation.

"I have received two awards this week, being made a doctor on Monday and now manager of the month, so it has been a fantastic week for me," he said.

"We came through adversity last year and got to a stage where we thought the only way was forward.

"We certainly wanted to make an impact in the SPL, which we have done, and we want that to carry on."