Fans react to PFA Manager of the Year nominees

Three Scottish managers are vying for the title of Players Football Association (PFA) Manager of the Year award – and the supporters believe they all deserve the title in their own right.  

From the Premiership, Dundee gaffer Tony Docherty has been nominated alongside Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes after respectively guiding their sides comfortably into the top six. 

The third nominee is Falkirk boss John McGlynn, who has overseen his side’s rise to lift the League One title. As well as that – his side are yet to lose a match this season.  

This year will be the first time that a manager outside of Celtic and Rangers will win the award since then Kilmarnock boss Steve Clarke triumphed in 2018-19.  

Tony Docherty is undergoing his first solo season in management – after he parted ways as assistant to fellow nominee Derek McInnes. 

Dundee FC supporter, Craig Farquharson, said: “There was a fear that Docherty may have been a guy who puts down on the training pitch for McInnes, but he has proven this year that he is a manager in his own right.  

“The way this Dundee team plays is fun and exciting to watch, we are brave on the ball, and we don’t fear taking risks.  

“I think Doc (Tony Docherty) should win.  

“For a novice manager to take the favourites for relegation and put them in contention for Europe is an astonishing achievement.” 

Kilmarnock have had a remarkable season so far – and are in pole position to grab themselves a European spot.  

Callum Scott, who runs ‘Forever and Ever – The Killie Fans Podcast’, said: “Without a doubt, Derek McInnes deserves to win it – but he is good company with Docherty and McGlynn.  

“For the club to even be in the hunt for the top six this year would have been a stark improvement, never mind taking the club back into Europe.  

“Two years ago, we scraped over the line and pipped part-time Arbroath to the Championship title. 

“This season Arbroath have been relegated to League One and McInnes has, all but, taken the club into Europe – if that isn’t a sliding door moment, I don’t know what is?” 

Falkirk have been one of the most impressive sides to watch this season, with gaffer McGlynn leading them to an unbeaten season – so far.  

John McInally, from the ‘Falkirk Daft’ podcast, said: “Out of the three contenders, John McGlynn should win the award.  

“He stands on the precipice of doing something that as far as I am aware, no club out with Celtic and Rangers has done in Scotland and that is going invincible. 

“The players he has brought in, the team he has created and the football we play is all of the credit to him.” 

The ‘Walking Down Hope Street’ podcast added: “Given the past five years in the division, to have the opportunity to have an invincible season is an incredible turnaround.” 

Peter MacKay