BLACKBURN born Gareth Ainsworth has been named League Two Manager of the Year by the League Managers Association despite his Wycombe side losing the play-off final.

Ainsworth’s men were beaten on penalties by Southend at Wembley on Saturday, a year after avoiding relegation to the Conference on the final day of the 2013-14 campaign.

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Bradford City’s Phil Parkinson, from Chorley, was named FA Cup manager of the year after his side beat Chelsea and Sunderland en route to the quarter-finals of the competition.

Eddie Howe was named Manager of the Year after guiding Bournemouth to the top flight while Jose Mourinho was named Premier League manager of the year.

Former Burnley boss Howe, who was also named Championship manager of the year after the Cherries’ title-winning season, is the first manager from outside the top flight to take the overall award since Steve Coppell, then of Reading, won in 2006.

The award came as recognition of Howe leading Bournemouth to the title, and promotion to the Premier League, with limited resources compared to many of his club’s rivals.

“I can’t believe it, I’m so surprised,” said Howe who guided Burnley to 13th in the Championship in his one full season in charge at Turf Moor.

He left Burnley to return to the south coast in October 2012.

Another former Burnley boss, Steve Cotterill, took the League One award after he guided Bristol City to the title.