Walsall Head Coach Mat Sadler has been named on the shortlist for the EFL's Sky Bet League Two Manager of the Season award for the upcoming 2024/25 EFL Awards.Former Saddlers forward Nathan Lowe is also one of the contenders for the Sky Bet League Two Player of the Season and Young Player of the Season awards for his outstanding performance for the Saddlers during the first half of the campaign.
Elsewhere, Daniel Farke (Leeds United), Régis Le Bris (Sunderland AFC), Scott Parker (Burnley) and Chris Wilder (Sheffield United) are in the running to be named EFL Championship Manager of the Season.
The winners will be announced live at the League’s annual ceremony in London on Sunday, 27th April, which is also being broadcast live on Sky Sports Football from 8:30pm.
Leeds United’s possession-based football under Farke has ensured the Yorkshire side remain in the mix for an automatic promotion spot. In the North East, Le Bris has taken Sunderland from a 16th place finish last season to being in the Play-Off spots to earn his place on the shortlist. Burnley’s rock-solid defence has been masterminded by Scott Parker, with the Clarets just one clean sheet away from the all-time record. Meanwhile, Wilder has got the Blades back firing after last season’s relegation as they battle for promotion at the first time of asking.
In line for the EFL Championship Player of the Season award are three players all spearheading promotion pushes. Burnley’s James Trafford has had an immense campaign between the sticks, proving instrumental in his side’s remarkable 28 clean sheets. Gustavo Hamer has been described as a ‘midfield orchestrator’ and has certainly been an integral part of Sheffield United’s promotion push. The shortlist is completed by Dan James – the pacey winger is on track for a career-best tally of goals and assists in a single campaign.
In League One, the high-flying Birmingham City boss Chris Davies faces competition for the Manager of the Season accolade from Wrexham AFC’s Phil Parkinson, who is looking for back-to-back promotions, Charlton Athletic’s Nathan Jones, who has catapulted the Addicks into fifth spot, and Richie Wellens, who has steered Leyton Orient from a disappointing start into touching distance of the Play-Offs.
League One’s joint top goalscorer Richard Kone (Wycombe Wanderers) is on the League One Player of the Season shortlist, joined by defensive midfielder Tomoki Iwata (Birmingham City) who has provided a real balance to City’s play. Davis Keillor-Dunn completes the trio – the Barnsley midfielder is the Club’s top marksman with 15 goals to his name.
In League Two, Andy Woodman has been recognised for the job he’s done at Bromley in the Club’s first-ever season in the EFL, with Graham Alexander (Bradford City), Darren Moore (Port Vale) and Mat Sadler (Walsall) completing the Manager of the Season shortlist.
Competing for the League Two Player of the Season accolade is striker Michael Cheek (Bromley), who has an impressive 21 league goals this season, winger Luke Molyneux, who has been influential to Doncaster Rovers’ push for promotion, and Nathan Lowe, who scored 15 goals in a prolific spell for Walsall in the first half of the season.
The EFL Young Player of the Season awards will once again be given out divisionally to recognise the best young talent across the League, while the EFL Teams of the Season and Goal of the Season will be revealed on the night.
Two of the League’s most prestigious awards, the Contribution to League Football and Sir Tom Finney awards, will be given out on the night. The Contribution to League Football award is presented annually by the Board of the EFL to an individual who has given a lifetime's service to the professional game on and/or off the pitch. Previous winners include Chris Kamara MBE and John Motson OBE.
Awarded to recipients who have had an outstanding career and contributed exceptionally to the EFL, previous winners of the Sir Tom Finney award include Adebayo Akinfenwa, Jobi McAnuff and Kevin Phillips.
2025 EFL AWARDS SHORTLISTS IN FULL
EFL Championship Manager of the Season – sponsored by Football Manager
Daniel Farke – Leeds United
Régis Le Bris – Sunderland AFC
Scott Parker – Burnley
Chris Wilder – Sheffield United
EFL League One Manager of the Season – sponsored by Football Manager
Chris Davies – Birmingham City
Nathan Jones – Charlton Athletic
Phil Parkinson – Wrexham AFC
Richie Wellens – Leyton Orient
EFL League Two Manager of the Season – sponsored by Football Manager
Graham Alexander – Bradford City
Darren Moore – Port Vale
Mat Sadler – Walsall
Andy Woodman – Bromley
EFL Championship Player of the Season – Sponsored by Sky Bet
Gustavo Hamer – Sheffield United
Dan James – Leeds United
James Trafford – Burnley
EFL League One Player of the Season – Sponsored by Sky Bet
Tomoki Iwata – Birmingham City
Davis Keillor-Dunn – Barnsley
Richard Kone – Wycombe Wanderers
EFL League Two Player of the Season – Sponsored by Sky Bet
Michael Cheek – Bromley
Nathan Lowe – Walsall (first half of season) – now at Stoke City
Luke Molyneux – Doncaster Rovers
EFL Championship Young Player of the Season – Sponsored by EA Sports
Jobe Bellingham – Sunderland AFC
Shea Charles – Sheffield Wednesday
CJ Egan-Riley – Burnley
EFL League One Young Player of the Season – Sponsored by EA Sports
Louie Barry – Stockport County (first half of season) – now at Hull City
Tyler Bindon – Reading
Richard Kone – Wycombe Wanderers
EFL League Two Young Player of the Season – Sponsored by EA Sports
George Abbott – Notts County
Nathan Lowe – Walsall (first half of season) – now at Stoke City
Bobby Pointon – Bradford City
EFL Championship Apprentice of the Season – sponsored by LFE
Ronan Kpakio – Cardiff City
Chris Rigg – Sunderland AFC
Souleymane Sidibe – Stoke City
EFL League One Apprentice of the Season – sponsored by LFE
Jake Richards – Exeter City
Kofi Shaw – Bristol Rovers
Luca Whitney – Shrewsbury Town
EFL League Two Apprentice of the Season – sponsored by LFE
Botan Ameen – Swindon Town
Sebastian Auton – Grimsby Town
Jack Shorrock – Port Vale
EFL Community Club of the Season
Norwich City
Rotherham United
Fleetwood Town
EFL Community Project of the Season
Plymouth Argyle – ACTing with Children
Charlton Athletic – CACT Youth Engagement Vehicles
Port Vale – Baby Bank
EFL Player in the Community – sponsored by the PFA
Jack Stacey – Norwich City
Taylor Moore – Bristol Rovers
Joseph Olowu – Doncaster Rovers
EFL Diversity Award
Charlton Athletic – RWB Day
Leyton Orient – Punjabi O’s
Rotherham United – United for Communities
EFL Green Club Award – sponsored by IMG
Blackburn Rovers – Sustainability learning conference
Carlisle United – Komatsu Climate heroes
Northampton Town – Cobblers tackle food waste
EFL Fan Engagement Award – sponsored by Wasserman Live
Cardiff City – 125th anniversary campaign
Huddersfield Town – Engaging the older generation
Portsmouth – Fratton Park Fan Zone
EFL Club Employee Award
Jeremy Austin – Morecambe
Ian Darler – Cambridge United
Alan Knight – Portsmouth
Sir Tom Finney Award
To be announced on the night.
EFL Championship Team of the Season – sponsored by Clarion
To be announced on the night.
EFL League One Team of the Season – sponsored by Clarion
To be announced on the night.
EFL League Two Team of the Season – sponsored by Clarion
To be announced on the night.
EFL Goal of the Season - sponsored by Hawk-Eye
To be announced on the night.
