EFL annual award nominees announced | OneFootball

Leeds head coach Daniel Farke, Burnley’s Scott Parker, Sheffield United’s Chris Wilder, and Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris comprise a four-man shortlist for the Championship Manager of the Season.

The leading quartet in the second tier standings are all in contention for an accolade that was secured last year by Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna.

The winner will be revealed at the English Football League’s annual awards gala in London on Sunday, 27 April.

For the Championship Player of the Season, the top promotion contenders are also well represented. Clarets shot-stopper James Trafford, Leeds attacker Daniel James, and Blades midfielder Gustavo Hamer are the three nominees.

It’s hardly a shock that the clubs aiming for promotion feature heavily across both shortlists.

Farke has maintained Leeds' pursuit of promotion while delivering a style of play that's both exciting and fluid. Parker’s Burnley have been a defensive powerhouse, registering 28 clean sheets — just one shy of the all-time benchmark.

Despite a two-point deduction, Wilder has kept Sheffield United in the automatic promotion mix for much of the campaign. Meanwhile, Le Bris has transformed Sunderland from a 16th-place finisher last year into a play-off contender currently sitting fourth.

In League One, the nominees for Manager of the Season include Chris Davies, who led Birmingham City to the title, Phil Parkinson of Wrexham, Charlton Athletic’s Nathan Jones, and Richie Wellens from Leyton Orient.

As for the standout performers in the third tier, Wycombe striker Richard Kone, Birmingham City midfielder Tomoki Iwata, and Barnsley’s goal-scoring engine Davis Keillor-Dunn make up the player shortlist.

In League Two, the Player of the Season race features Bromley’s Michael Cheek, Doncaster winger Luke Molyneux, and Nathan Lowe — the former Walsall frontman who netted 18 goals in 30 games on loan before Stoke City brought him back in January.

For League Two’s managerial award, Bromley’s Andy Woodman, Graham Alexander of Bradford City, Darren Moore from table-toppers Port Vale, and Mat Sadler of long-time leaders Walsall are all in the mix.