Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou among Manager of the Year nominees

Celtic’s Ange Postecoglou is in the running for the Manager of the Year award after being named on the four-man shortlist for the prize.

The Managers and Coaches Association of Scotland have narrowed down the nominees for the accolade and Postecoglou is up against Ross County’s Malky Mackay, Arbroath boss Dick Campbell and Cove Rangers manager Paul Hartley.

Postecoglou has already delivered the League Cup for Celtic after an extensive summer rebuild and the Australian is hoping to cap his first season in Scottish football by winning the Premiership title.

Celtic are six points ahead of second-placed Rangers with four games to go and the sides meet at Parkhead on Sunday.

Mackay is on the list after recovering from a difficult start to the season to lead County into the top six and into contention for a European place.

Campbell has been one of the season’s biggest success stories as he had guided part-time side Arbroath to compete at the top of the Championship table. Kilmarnock narrowly won the title ahead of Abroath but Campbell will now take his team into the play-offs and attempt to secure promotion to the top flight.

Hartley won the League One title with Cove Rangers, marking back to back promotions for the ambitious side.

Billy Brown, the chairman of the Managers and Coaches Association, said: “I congratulate all four managers on being nominated – they are all extremely worthy candidates to be named Manager of the Year.

“Dick’s achievement in taking Arbroath into the Premiership play-offs with a part-time squad is remarkable, while Paul deserves great praise for guiding Cove Rangers into the second tier of Scottish football in almost no time at all.

“What Malky’s done in turning Ross County’s season around has been fantastic; he has a great track record as a manager but to qualify for European football would be superb.

“Ange started the season at Celtic with a blank sheet of paper, and it was tricky for him initially, but he’s developed an attractive style of play in a short space of time whilst getting some great results.

“It’s a really difficult call, and any one of the four deserves to win the award. I look forward to Sunday’s ceremony and congratulating them all on their achievements.”