Everton's David Moyes has won the official manager-ofthe-year award but at least one leading Premiership figure says that Bryan Robson of West Bromwich Albion should have received the title
Robson led Albion to 17th in the Barclays Premiership on the fast day of the season - against all odds with a victory over Portsmouth - and that, according to Sam Allardyce, was an achievement worthy of the prize.
Allardyce, the Bolton Wanderers manager 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, Moyes and [Jose] 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. I shall be ringing him to see if his hangover is as bad as mine."
Moyes admitted he was focused on avoiding relegation at the start of this season - only to embark on an " amazing" turn-around that saw him named League Managers' Association Manager of the Year.
Twelve months ago some supporters were calling for the Scot to be sacked after Everton narrowly escaped relegation, but this season the Toffees finished fourth in the Premiership, pipping rivals Liverpool to a Champions League place.
Moyes' achievement has been recognised by his peers and he was given the LMA award despite strong competition from Chelsea boss Mourinho.
Former Preston chief Moyes 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.
"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."
