Duffy wins Championship Manager of the Season

Manager Jim Duffy was today named as the Ladbrokes Championship Manager of the Season in recognition of a fantastic 2016/17 campaign.

The Ton boss steered his side to a fourth place finish in the second tier, securing a Premiership promotion play-off place with two league games to spare.

Greenock gaffer Duffy was also shortlisted for the PFA Scotland manager award alongside Alan Archibald, Derek McInnes and eventual recipient Brendan Rodgers.

The Ladbrokes yearly awards are voted for by a judging panel consisting of members of the Scottish media, and they selected the 58-year-old as their choice of recipient, which he was awarded at Cappielow today.

Duffy told gmfc.net: “There’s some top-class managers in the league and it’s a very tough league at the best of times, so to win the award is obviously very special.

“I’m absolutely delighted and thrilled with the award, and honoured. Like anything else the award reflects on the work and the effort the players put in through the year, and that reflects back to me as a manager.

“I think there’s maybe some elements of a body of work coming into it as well. Over the last three years, we’ve taken the club forward, and I think sometimes that play a role.

“Obviously we know we’re not the biggest club in the world. We don’t perhaps have the resources other clubs have – but we’re a club that’s trying to imrpove and trying to get better and I think we have done.

“We are moving forward as a football club and I think that’s also reflected in people’s opinions of you, that the club’s moving forward. That’s probably the most pleasing thing, that all aspects of the club are moving forward.

“In this particular case, winning the Manager of the Year, is something you’re grateful for and you appreciate it, but it’s also a wee bit humbling to think people have a positive opinion of you and feel you merit the award.”

 

Image: Ross Cameron