Mick McCarthy says the Manager of the Month award ought to be scrapped if table-topping Cardiff City boss Neil Warnock doesn’t carry off the August gong.
McCarthy is one of the nominees alongside his one-time Barnsley team-mate Warnock, Leeds boss Thomas Christiansen and Wolves manager Nuno EspÃrito Santo, while Town striker Martyn Waghorn is on the shortlist for the Player of the Month.
"If he doesn’t get the Manager of the Month award they can scrap that award altogether!” McCarthy laughed.
"I’ve just seen I was nominated for it, which is really nice and I see Waggy’s been nominated for the Player of the Month, which is even nicer still, but it’s Warney’s, he can’t not get it.
"And I hope it puts the fickle finger of fate on him as well! Actually, I don’t, I’m not wishing ill on anybody because they’re playing Fulham and they’re a good side.
"It’ll be interesting, see how they cope against each other because Cardiff have been flying and Fulham were excellent here two weeks ago.”
McCarthy was pleased that on-loan Blues striker Kieffer Moore, who is with Rotherham for the season along with right-back Josh Emmanuel, was nominated for the League One Player of the Month award.
"Brilliant, that’s the reason I sent him out,” he said. "Let me just clear it up, he’s not as good as Waggy, he’s not as good as Joe Garner, Freddie or Didz, we’ve got four really good strikers, as different as they might be, they are all more important to me in this league.
"He was sent there on loan to do exactly what he’s doing. And isn’t that great? I’m delighted for him, I’ve texted him and he’s enjoying it.
"Josh didn’t play last week, he’d got a sore toe, but they’re pleased with them both, it’s great.”