Neil, Lampard, Jakirovic & Hellberg up for manager award

Neil, Lampard, Jakirovic & Hellberg up for manager award
Side-by-side close-up photos of the nominated managers from left to right: Alex Neil, Frank Lampard, Sergej Jakirovic and Kim Hellberg.
Only Ipswich Town's Kieran McKenna misses out on a nomination for Championship manager of the season among the current top five clubs [Getty Images]

Coventry City boss Frank Lampard, Millwall's Alex Neil, Sergej Jakirovic of Hull City and Middlesbrough head coach Kim Hellberg have all made the shortlist for Championship manager of the season.

The quartet are in contention for the award that was picked up by Burnley's Scott Parker in 2025.

The winners will be announced on Sunday, 19 April at the English Football League's annual awards ceremony in London.

The four sides managed by the nominees are the top four in the Championship table.

Lampard's Coventry only need four more points from their remaining five matches to win promotion to the Premier League for the first time in 25 years.

Hellberg has kept Boro within the automatic promotion places for a large part of his tenure after the departure of Rob Edwards to Wolves in November.

Millwall have thrived under Neil this season - winning 21 games, second only to the Sky Blues' 25 - and Jakirovic has taken Hull into the play-off places in his first campaign in charge. The Tigers only escaped relegation last season on goal difference.

Four players are nominated for Championship player of the season.

Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney, Coventry goalkeeper Carl Rushworth, Millwall forward Femi Azeez and Championship top scorer Zan Vipotnik, who has scored 20 goals for 15th placed Swansea City, are all up for the award.

The Championship's young player of the season nominations feature three 21-year-old midfielders on the shortlist - Leicester City's Jordan James, Sheffield United's Sydie Peck and Bobby Clark of Derby County.

Stoke City defender Ashley Phillips, 20, is also up for the award.

Lincoln City & Bromley lead the way

A close up of Graham Alexander applauding wearing a long-sleeved black jacket
Last year's League Two manager of the year Graham Alexander has earned another nomination for his work with Bradford City in League One [Getty Images]

In League One, Lincoln City boss Michael Skubala is listed for manager of the season after the Imps secured promotion over Easter weekend.

He is named alongside Graham Alexander of Bradford City, Cardiff City boss Brian Barry-Murphy and Stevenage's Alex Revell.

League One top scorer Dom Ballard is nominated for the player award, as is Doncaster Rovers' Owen Bailey and Lincoln City pair Jack Moylan and Sonny Bradley.

Leyton Orient's Ballard is also listed for young player of the season award.

In League Two, Bromley boss Andy Woodman, Paul Warne of MK Dons, Oldham Athletic's Micky Mellon and Cambridge United head coach Neil Harris make the manager short list.

Bromley pair Mitch Pinnock and Omar Sowumni are up for the player award, with Swindon Town's Aaron Drinan and Callum Paterson of MK Dons rounding off the nominations.