Hearts sweep up SFWA awards nominations as Derek McInnes leads Jambos quartet on honours shortlists
A clutch of Hearts figures have been nominated for awards by the SFWA.
Manager Derek McInnes and three Hearts players have been nominated for prizes at the annual Scottish Football Writers Association awards.
McInnes has been nominated for Manager of the Year alongside Celtic’s Martin O’Neill, Motherwell’s Jens Berthel Askou and Falkirk’s John McGlynn. The SFWA Player of the Year shortlist is the same as the PFA Scotland equivalent with Hearts duo Lawrence Shankland and Claudio Braga nominated with Motherwell’s Elijah Just and Tawanda Maswanhise.
Hearts women’s team star Georgia Timms has been nominated for SWPL Player of the Year. She will go up against Lee Gibson of Glasgow City, Celtic’s Maria McAneny and Rangers’ Katie Wilkinson for the prize of best women’s player in the SWPL this term.
Why have Hearts figures been nominated for awards?
McInnes took charge at Tynecastle last summer and has them two games away from a first Premiership title since 1960. A win over Falkirk midweek coupled with Celtic losing to Motherwell, would see him become the first manager since Sir Alex Ferguson’s Aberdeen in 1985 to bring the top flight title out of Rangers and Celtic hands.
Key to that has been Shankland and Braga, who between the strike pair have netted 36 goals this term, with 12 assists. They finish the Premiership campaign away at title rivals Celtic. It could also be a special season for Hearts Women and Eva Olid is on track to vacate her role as head coach in the summer as an SWPL champion.
They are looking to win the title and are four points clear at the top, where striker Timms’ goals have been key, netting 19 times across 25 matches. They will win the league on May 17th if they defeat Glasgow City before the season ends a week later with an Edinburgh derby versus Hibs.
Winners will be unveiled at an awards night in Glasgow on Sunday.
Who has been nominated for SFWA awards?
Manager of the Year: Derek McInnes (Hearts), John McGlynn (Falkirk), Jens Berthel Askou (Motherwell), Martin O’Neill (Celtic).
Player of the Year: Claudio Braga, Lawrence Shankland (Hearts), Tawanda Maswanhise, Elijah Just (Motherwell).
Young Player of the Year: Findlay Curtis (Kilmarnock), Barney Stewart (Falkirk), Luke Graham (Dundee), Andrew Tod (Dunfermline Athletic).
SWPL Player of the Year: Lee Gibson (Glasgow City), Maria McAneny (Celtic), Katie Wilkinson (Rangers), Georgia Timms (Hearts).
SWPL Young Player of the Year: Laura Berry, Mia McAulay, Jodi McLeary (Rangers), Lisa Forrest (Glasgow City).
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