The alternative awards: The managers

By Dan Warren

Another long, hard football season draws to a close and the stars of the beautiful game hope to garner more gongs in the end-of-season award ceremonies.

We all know who has shone during the campaign but it is time to redress the balance by giving recognition to those who have not already cleaned up on the trophy front.

And remember to get involved on our messageboards to give your verdicts on our awards - and dish out some of your own.

Here we focus on the managers who may not have grabbed the headlines of some of their illustrious peers but still deserve credit.

THE PREMIERSHIP

The Obvious Choice: Jose Mourinho (Chelsea)
Yes, we all know about the self-proclaimed 'special one'. A League Cup was followed by the Blues' first top-flight title in 50 years and a raft of new Premiership records etc etc etc...

The Alternative: David Moyes (Everton)
Fourth place marks a remarkable turnaround in fortunes for Everton - and Moyes has to take tremendous credit.

Everton have enjoyed their best Premiership season under Moyes

It is easy to forget the turmoil at Goodison Park last summer. The club had finished 17th in the Premiership and saw its major prospect, Wayne Rooney, snapped up by Manchester United.

Relegation seemed a genuine concern - but fast-forward 10 months and the Toffees are preparing for their first crack at the Champions League after their highest Premiership finish.

That alone is enough to make Moyes a hero for the Blue half of Merseyside - and the fact that European qualification came at the expense of Liverpool makes it all the sweeter for the fans.

Indeed, Moyes is the first Everton manager to lead his side to a higher finish than the Reds since Howard Kendall in 1986-87 a fact not lost on the League Managers' Association, who voted him manager of the year.

Have Your Say On the Premiership board

The Honourable Mention: Bryan Robson (West Brom)
The Baggies were bottom at Christmas. Robson became the first boss to take a side in that position to safety with a last-day great escape that will live long in the memory of all Albion fans.

THE CHAMPIONSHIP

The Obvious Choice: Mick McCarthy (Sunderland)
McCarthy led Sunderland back to the Premiership after a two-season absence with a style that bettered even the shining achievement of Paul Jewell at Wigan.

The Alternative: Billy Davies (Preston)
Davies took over at Preston at the end of August 2004, inheriting a team that lay 20th in the Championship following a dismal start.

Davies was not even born when Preston were last in the top flight

That now seems a distant memory, as the shrewd Scot turned a team that had been listed at 50/1 for the title into consistent winners.

A run of one defeat in 20 matches from December to April firmly ensconced Preston in the Championship play-off positions.

The 40-year-old boss of North End was not even born the last time Preston played a top-flight match in 1961 - but thanks to him, the club has a chance of tasting those glory days again.

Have Your Say On the Championship board

The Honourable Mention: George Burley (Derby)
Last season, the Rams finished only one point above the drop zone. What a contrast this season! They have 25 more points and even though Preston lead them in the play-offs, it has been a great campaign.

LEAGUE ONE

The Obvious Choice: Mike Newell (Luton)
Quite simply, Luton never looked like not winning the League One title. A massive 98-point haul comfortably secured top spot for a team that started well and rarely faltered.

The Alternative: Danny Wilson (MK Dons)
When the former Bristol City boss arrived at Milton Keynes, the Dons were in a sorry state.

Wilson was able to arrest the Dons' alarming slide

The side had metamorphised from Wimbledon - relegated the previous season - but the change did little for their luck.

Wilson arrived on 7 December with his beleaguered new team 23rd and proceeded to transform them, including an 11-match unbeaten run that was as remarkable as it was unlikely.

And the successful escape ended in gloriously dramatic fashion as Gareth Edds' 84th-minute last-day winner against Tranmere secured their League One status.

Have Your Say On the League One board

The Honourable Mention: Martin Allen (Brentford)
OK, so the Bees' season ended in the play-offs. But, lest we forget, the previous campaign led to boss Allen securing survival with a last-day win over Bournemouth. What a fine turnaround.

LEAGUE TWO

The Obvious Choice: Gary Johnson (Yeovil)
In only their second season of League football, Johnson steered the Glovers to the title - as well as an FA Cup run, which only ended in the fourth round with a 3-2 loss at Premiership Charlton.

The Alternative: Brian Laws (Scunthorpe)
Laws masterminded a brilliant turnaround from last season when the Iron finished only four points above relegation.

Laws has given the Iron a steely edge this season

This season he has instilled a formidable consistency in his side, who have been in the top three for virtually the entire campaign, and have won eight league games out of nine towards the end of last year.

Of the League teams outside the Premiership, only Luton and Ipswich picked up more points at home.

And to cap it all, Scunthorpe were one of the very few teams to score against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge - in a very creditable 3-1 FA Cup loss.

Have Your Say On the League Two board

The Honourable Mention: Brian Horton (Macclesfield)
Horton took over at Moss Rose on April Fools' Day 2004, but the way he guided a team of strugglers into the play-offs is no joke.

CONFERENCE

The Obvious Choice: Paul Fairclough (Barnet)
Fairclough could not have done much more in his first full season in charge. Barnet hit top spot five games in and never lost it as they regained their League status after a four-year absence.

The Alternative: Steve Burr (Northwich Victoria)
Of all the great escapes performed in the top five divisions this season, nothing matches the achievement of Burr.

Burr pulled off arguably the greatest escape this season

He took over at the Vics in June 2004 and probably wished he had not as they found themselves rock bottom by November with no win in their first 13 games.

They were docked 10 points in September for going into administration and had to play as tenants at Witton Albion's Wincham Park, with their new stadium being delayed and delayed. And there was no cash for new players.

There are not many managers who would fancy those odds - but Burr turned things around and secured survival with five wins in the final seven games.

Have Your Say On the Non-League board

The Honourable Mention: Paul Simpson (Carlisle)
Bouncing back to the Football League at the first attempt after relegation is never easy. But Simpson guided his side through the play-offs to become only the second team in 15 years to return at the first time of asking.