Megson scoops award

Gary Megson guided West Brom back into the top flight

West Brom boss Gary Megson has been named Nationwide Division One Manager of the Year.

Megson guided the Baggies to automatic promotion to the Premiership in just his second full season at the Hawthorns after a dramatic campaign.

A late run of form was just enough to see them pip Black Country rivals Wolves for second spot in Division One, securing a return to the top flight after a 16-year absence.

Megson was appointed West Brom boss in March 2000 and compared to some of Albion's big-spending rivals, he has won promotion relatively cheaply.

He paid £2m to Bristol Rovers for Jason Roberts shortly after taking up the reigns at the Hawthorns, but also raised £5m from the sale of Lee Hughes to Coventry.

Brighton took Division Two by storm under Taylor

The award comes after a public row between Megson and Baggies chairman Paul Thompson over the club's finances that saw Thompson announce he would step down from his position at the club.

The Nationwide Division Two Manager of the Year award went to former Brighton boss Peter Taylor.

The Seagulls romped to the Second Division title after he took up the helm last October, losing just six of the 40 games played under his control.

But he resigned from his post last month after a disagreement with chairman Dick Knight over funding arrangements and the Seagulls' proposed new stadium at Falmer.

Plymouth boss Paul Sturrock is also celebrating after lifting the Division Three award.

Argyle were crowned Third Division champions after amassing 102 points in a campaign that saw them lose only six games all season.

Sturrock, who was Dundee United manager for two years before moving to Home Park, has taken Plymouth out of England's bottom division for the first time in four years.

The potential at the Devon club was emphasised by the 18,500 fans who turned up to see their 2-0 win over Cheltenham on the last day of the season.