Moyes rewarded for wonderful season

Everton manager David Moyes has admitted he was focused on avoiding relegation at the start of this season – only to embark on an “amazing” turn-around which saw him named League Managers’ Association Manager of the Year last night.

The Toffees finished fourth in the Barclays Premiership, pipping rivals Liverpool to a Champions League qualifier and giving them the chance of a place among the European elite next season.

Twelve months ago some supporters were calling for the Scot to be sacked after Everton narrowly escaped relegation from the top flight.

Moyes’ achievement has been recognised by his peers and he was given the LMA award despite strong competition from Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho.

The former Preston chief also won the accolade two years ago after almost taking his side to a place in the UEFA Cup.

“At the start of the season I was thinking to myself: ‘How can we avoid relegation?'" Moyes said at the ceremony, broadcast by Sky Sports News.

“Then we lost our best player when Wayne Rooney left for Manchester United. A year ago, I was just relieved to have escaped relegation, so it’s amazing how football can turn around.”

In Rooney’s absence, Denmark midfielder Thomas Gravesen became the team’s talisman. But in January he too departed, when Real Madrid came calling.

Many expected Everton’s bubble to burst but instead they defiantly kept their place in the top four.

“Last year I came to the (LMA) dinner when we had just avoided relegation thinking: ‘Thank goodness,’” added Moyes.

“It was a great feeling avoiding relegation. It was hard. We’ve been very fortunate but whatever the reasons, we got there together.”

Bolton manager Sam Allardyce, however, believes Bryan Robson is the manager of the year.

Robson kept West Brom in the Premiership on the last day of the season against all odds with a victory over Portsmouth.

Allardyce, who will take his side into the UEFA Cup for the first time next season, said: “There is only one man to win the manager of the year award and that is Bryan Robson.

“He has done more than me, Moyesy and Mourinho.

“He has achieved something nobody else has done and that’s keep a team up that was bottom on Christmas day.

“Yet when he started at West Brom some of the fans did not want him there. But he really turned the corner.”

Allardyce added: “I shall be ringing him to see if his hangover is as bad as mine!”