HEYBRIDGE Swifts boss Jody Brown has been nominated for a manager-of-the-year award.

The former Maldon and Tiptree assistant, pictured right, was recently named Ryman League division one north manager of the month for April.

Now he in the running for the league’s manager-of-the-year awards, with the winners set to be unveiled at next month’s Ryman League banquet and ball at Wembley’s Hilton Hotel.

“It’s very pleasing to have won the monthly award and to be nominated as manager of the year, given the circumstances and what we’ve achieved since I took over at Heybridge,” said former Tiptree United boss Brown.

“I don’t expect to win the latter but it’s always nice to receive personal accolades.

“And given that we also received a team performance of the month in March, it shows the rapid progress we’ve made together since Christmas.

“To finish six points behind the leaders was an exceptional effort and it’s a shame we ran out of time, because if the season had been another month longer we might have been talking about automatic promotion.

“Now I’m looking forward to the challenge of ensuring we build on our achievements, to ensure it’s long-term, rather than short-term, success.”

Brown scooped the April award after guiding his side to a third-place finish and the play-offs, with six wins from seven outings in April.

Four of their victories were recorded away from home, after losing their opening encounter of the month.