VAUXHALL Motors boss Carl Macauley has dedicated his manager of the month award to everyone associated with the resurgent Blue Square North club.

Macauley was named the league’s top boss for December after master- minding impressive victories over Droylsden, Stafford Rangers and promotion-chasing Harrogate Town.

The hat-trick of wins has lifted the Ellesmere Port outfit from the fringes of a relegation battle to mid-table security – but Macauley is refusing to take all the plaudits.

He said: “I always say this is an award for the club as opposed to me. I pick the team but the players have to go out there and deliver and they have been doing that.”

Last time Macauley was named manager of the month – in August 2006 – he fell victim to the award’s famous curse as his in-form side lost their next game to Harrogate.

So was he relieved when Motors’ trip to Redditch United was postponed on Saturday due to a frozen pitch?

“That’s one way of looking at it,” laughed Macauley. “But really we were on a run of three wins and we wanted the next game to come along as quickly as possible.

“Instead, we have to wait for the visit of Alfreton on Saturday.”

The Reds will provide a stern test for the Motormen at the Motassist Arena (3pm). Currently eighth, they boast December’s Blue Square North player of the month Liam Hearn, as well as former Cardiff and Brentford striker Leo Fortune-West and onetime Chester full-back Simon Marples.

Motors claim they are still awaiting payments from Chester City for the transfer of Paul Taylor.

Taylor joined the League Two outfit on loan in the summer and the clubs agreed to make the move permanent in January, with the transfer fee believed to be about £30,000. But Taylor failed a drugs test in October – traces of cocaine were found in a urine sample – and he has not played for Chester since the results of the test were known.

The FA has ruled that Vauxhall are still entitled to receive a monthly loan fee for the player – but Chester are reluctant to pay up.

In a statement released this week, Motors chairman Alan Bartlam said: “After much confusion on the part of Chester City, they belatedly paid for the first loan period of August.

“But we have not received any further payments, some of which are now three months overdue.

“This is despite the FA ruling that the player remained on loan to Chester City and as such all monthly invoices need to be settled.”

The statement added: “We believe that Chester have indicated they would like to discuss this situation, but there is nothing to discuss.

“We agreed to their contract terms, they drew up all the paperwork and there is no get-out clause.”