Coppell claims manager of the year award

Reading’s Steve Coppell has been named manager of the year by rival bosses for the second consecutive season.

The Royals chief picked up the award – voted for by fellow Premier League and Football League managers – at the League Managers’ Association awards dinner in Nottingham this week, after guiding his team to eighth place in their first season in the top flight.

Coppell, whose side finished just one point adrift of a UEFA Cup place, won the award last year after setting a new record in the Coca-Cola Championship with 106 points – losing just two games along the way.

The 51-year-old is committed to the club until 2009 after signing a new deal earlier in the season.

Meanwhile, Roy Keane was awarded the LMA’s Championship manager of the year award after guiding Sunderland to the title.

Yeovil’s Russell Slade and Hartlepool’s Danny Wilson won the League One and League Two awards respectively.