SFL awards: Ally McCoist joy but Queens steal show

Ally McCoist was recognised for steering Rangers through choppy waters to the title. Picture: SNS

The Doonhamers picked up awards at player, manager and club level and it was no surprise that their player/manager Allan Johnston saw off the challenge of newly-promoted Alloa’s Paul Hartley to be selected as the Second Division Manager of the Year.

Striker Nicky Clark, who scored 41 goals as the Palmerston side won the title with a record points total, was the runaway winner as the Second Division Player of the Season, with the Ibrox transfer target also picking up an award for being the top goalscorer in the SFL.

Queens were also recognised at the other end of the park  with Lee Robinson being  selected as the Goalkeeper of the Season.

Johnston, Clark and Robinson and the rest of their Palmerston team-mates were also chosen as the Team of the Season ahead of the other nominees, First Division champions Partick Thistle and Dumbarton.

It was to be a blank night for the Jags as the First Division Manager of the Year award went to the Sons’ Ian Murray, who performed heroics in keeping them safe from relegation despite having only five points from the 13 games they had played before he came in.

The two managers who led Thistle this season, Jackie McNamara and Alan Archibald, made it to the final three, however Murray saw them both off in the voting stakes.

The Firhill side also lost out for the First Division Player of the Season after Falkirk’s Lyle Taylor was rewarded for hitting 29 goals this season by being crowned as the best player in that league. The Jags’ Chris Erskine and on-loan St Johnstone striker Steven May, who ended the season in great style with Hamilton Accies, were the other nominees for the First Division Award.

May did, however, retain the Young Player of the Year honour for a second year running after polling more votes than Stuart Bannigan of Partick  Thistle and Rangers youngster Lewis Macleod.

McCoist was recognised for navigating Rangers through choppy waters and leading them to the Third Division title at the first time of asking. He saw off the challenge of Peterhead’s Jim McInally and Gardner Speirs of Queen’s Park.

The Spiders fared better in the Third Division Player of the Year, with midfielder David Anderson being voted as the best player in that league ahead of Rangers’ Lee McCulloch and Rory McAllister of Peterhead.

There was no surprise in the Goal of the Season stakes with Dumbarton striker Bryan Prunty’s overhead kick against Livingston being voted as the top goal of the 1,781 scored in the SFL last season.

The sponsor also provided a Phenomenal Achievement Award to Berwick Rangers’ club secretary Dennis McCleary in recognition of his 43 years of service to the Borderers

First Division  Manager of the Season

Ian Murray (Dumbarton)

Second Division  Manager of the Season

Allan Johnston (Queen of the South)

Third Division  Manager of the Season

Ally McCoist (Rangers)

First Division  Player of the Season

Lyle Taylor (Falkirk)

Second Division  Player of the Season

Nicky Clark (Queen of the South)

Third Division  Player of the Season

David Anderson (Queen’s Park)

Young Player of the Season

Stevie May (Hamilton Accies)

Goal of the Season

Bryan Prunty (Dumbarton)

Goalkeeper of the Season

Lee Robinson (Queen of the South)

Top Goalscorer

Nicky Clark (Queen of the South)

Team of the Season

Queen of the South

Phenomenal Achievement Award

Dennis McCleary (Berwick Rangers)